Handy plant ties

Photo/Illustration: Michael Gellatly

Dental floss is the handiest string for tying climbing vines to lattices and trellises. Floss is light and supple, good for tying up the smallest and most delicate vines, like clematis, but also extremely strong for more robust vines, like roses. A reel of floss is small enough to fit in your pocket, and no shears are necessary, as the cutting edge is built into the reel. Best of all, green mint-flavored floss is practically invisible next to a vine’s stem.