A tree tie’s job is to hold the trunk against its stake without rubbing the bark or strangling the stem as it thickens. Which fastening you reach for depends mostly on tree size and how many you’re fitting, and whether the tie already includes a spacer or you need to add one.

Buckle tie, soft tie or belting off the roll

The Buckle & Soft Tree Ties range covers both styles. Buckle ties use an adjustable buckle fastening, which makes them easy to loosen as the trunk grows without cutting and refitting a new tie every season. Soft ties are a flexible strap, better suited to smaller or more delicate stock where a rigid buckle would be overkill. Both are supplied complete with a spacer fitted between the tie and the bark.

Tree Belting is a different approach: 10m rolls in 24mm, 35mm or 50mm widths, in stretch rubber or reinforced rubber. It suits larger planting schemes where you’re cutting and tying lengths to size on site rather than fitting a pre-made tie to each tree, and where buying by the roll works out more practical than buying individual ties one at a time.

Do you need a separate spacer

Buckle and soft tree ties already come with a spacer built in, so there’s nothing extra to add. Tree belting doesn’t include one. Fixed directly against the trunk, a length of belting can rub the bark as the tree moves in the wind, so it’s worth pairing it with Spacer Sleeves and Blocks to keep the stake clear of the stem. These are made from weather-resistant EPDM polymer and come in flat back and rounded back profiles, so there’s a shape to suit most stake and trunk combinations.

Which product for which job

For street trees, hedgerow whips and general amenity planting where you’re fitting individual trees, Buckle & Soft Tree Ties are the simplest choice: buckle for larger stock you’ll want to adjust as it grows, soft for smaller or more delicate whips. For bulk planting schemes where cutting belting to length on site suits the job better, choose Tree Belting in the width the tree size calls for, and add Spacer Sleeves and Blocks so the belting isn’t sitting directly against the bark.

All three are quote-based products, so get in touch with your tree sizes, stake type and quantities and the team will confirm current sizes, pack quantities and pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a buckle tie and a soft tie?

A buckle tie fastens with an adjustable buckle, so it's easy to loosen as the trunk thickens without refitting. A soft tie is a flexible strap, better suited to smaller or more delicate stock. Both come with a spacer already fitted.

Do I need a spacer if I'm using tree belting?

Yes, generally. Belting cut from the roll has no built-in spacer, so fixing it straight against the trunk can let the stake or belting rub the bark as the tree moves. Adding Spacer Sleeves and Blocks keeps the stake clear of the stem.

How often should I check and loosen a tree tie?

Check ties at least once a year, and more often on fast-growing young trees. A tie that's tightened rather than loosened as the trunk grows can cut into the bark and restrict the tree's vascular system, so it needs adjusting or replacing as the stem thickens.