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I used to buy plant ties and garden tape without thinking about it. But one day, while cleaning out a dresser drawer, I found a pile of stretched-out, stained old t-shirts and thought—why not use these in the garden? Spoiler: They worked better than store-bought ties.
If you’ve got climbing vines or droopy stems and no fancy plant supports, here’s how you can use old t-shirts to tie them up—gently and for free.
1. Cut Your T-Shirt Into Strips
T-shirt fabric is soft, stretchy, and strong. That makes it perfect for supporting plants without cutting into their stems.
What I do:
- I cut the shirt into long strips about 1 inch wide and 6–10 inches long.
- For heavier plants, I make the strips wider or double them up.
- You can use sleeves, body, and even the bottom hem. Nothing goes to waste.
2. Tie the Right Way (Loose, Not Tight)
Ties that are too tight will choke the plant as it grows. You want a loop that holds but still gives the stem some room to wiggle.
How I do it:
I make a figure-eight tie: one loop around the plant stem, one around the support (like a trellis or stake), with the knot in between.
This keeps the stem from rubbing too much and allows gentle movement in the wind.
3. Use Them All Season—and Wash or Compost After
T-shirt ties last through rain, heat, and wind. And when the season’s over, you can toss them in the wash and reuse them next year—or compost the 100% cotton ones.
What I do: I keep a handful in my garden tool bag, ready for when a tomato vine goes rogue or a cucumber plant needs training.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to buy special ties to support your plants. With just one old shirt, you can make dozens of soft, stretchy plant ties that work better than twine or string.
Since I started using t-shirt strips, my vines stay upright, my stems don’t get bruised, and I’ve spent exactly $0 doing it. So grab that old tee from the laundry pile—your garden will thank you.
