Garden Rope and Outdoor
Garden Rope and Outdoor Rope by RopesDirect
You have a choice between natural products which are biodegradable and environmentally friendlier, or synthetic ropes which are more durable.
| Lighting Support / Fun / Colourful | Our wide range of colours in Polypropylene, Polyester and in soft Polysilk - great for jazzing up your outdoor living space or adding a colourful touch to garden fences and designer-corners of your garden. |
| Tying Down / General Use | Blue Polypropylene - our best selling rope is versatile, strong, rot-proof and hard-wearing. We stock a wide range of diameters. White Staplespun Rope is an excellent alternative, made from polypropylene fibres and giving excellent grip when knotting. |
| Natural Ropes | See our Natural Ropes section for the full range. |
| Lawn Edging | Manila or Synthetic Hemp ropes. |
| Swings and swing seats | We recommend Synthetic Hemp ropes. We also supply Extension/Adjustment Ropes for child swings. |
| Decking Rope | We usually recommend Synthetic Hemp, or Polysilk in one of our vibrant colours. If you want a natural rope then choose Manila, Flax Hemp or Jute (which has a polypropylene core for extra strength). See our video on which rope to choose, and our measuring guide, below. |
| Tent Guy Ropes | Our range of white Nylon Cord up to 5mm in diameter is suitable for many family tents. Larger tents may need our Braid on Braid Polyester or even something from our Synthetic Hemp range. |
| A Lighter Look | Natural Cotton and Synthetic Cotton ropes in a wide range of diameters. Sisal, too, is a lighter-looking natural rope. You can see it in more detail on our Sisal video. |
| Sheds / Woodwork | Superior Grade Sisal, resistant to sunlight and stretch. |
| Rose Swags /Supporting Large Plants | Do you want natural or synthetic rope? People tend to choose Synthetic Hemp, or if natural they opt mainly for Manila. There's also Flex Hemp, Jute or Sisal. |
| Twine and String | A great range of Twine and String. Look out for our natural Sisal Twine too. |
| Starter Cord | Nylon starter cord to suit all machinery. |
To measure how much rope you need for decking, use a piece of string or follow the instructions below.
Which is the best garden rope for outdoor garden use?
All of the ropes in our ‘garden’ collection have been tried and tested in an outdoor environment, and are tough enough to hold up against the elements and a significant level of wear and tear.
Synthetic Hemp is typically our no.1 recommendation for outdoor use. Made from polypropylene fibres, this is one of the hardiest options available – strong, durable, fully weatherproof and UV resistant. It doesn’t shrink or swell when it gets wet, and can last for many years in your garden, whilst retaining its natural appearance and soft texture.
Other fantastic synthetic options include Synthetic Sisal and PolySilk.
We also stock an excellent selection of natural fibre ropes that are suitable for outdoor use – but remember natural ropes will break down outside much quicker than synthetics.
Manila can also be a great garden rope – as this contains natural oils, which help it to withstand the elements and make it better suited to outdoor use than most other natural options.
Our Jute Ropes have a natural outer, and they demonstrate excellent resistance to wear and tear, heat and sunlight. Plus they benefit from a polypropylene (synthetic) core, which gives them the strength and resilience required to survive long-term outdoor use – even here in the UK. Flax Hemp, whilst not so resilient outside is also a favourite.
Further information on the best rope for garden use can be found in our blog.
What do I need to make a garden rope fence?
The short answer – 24-36mm Synthetic Hemp Rope.
Offering the perfect balance of strength, resilience and aesthetic appeal. This can be left outside for many years without issue and is our go-to for most outdoor decking and garden rope fence projects. However, you could also use Synthetic Sisal, PolySilk, Flax Hemp, Jute or Manila.
Whichever rope material you decide to use, it’s important to measure up carefully and accurately using our guide – adding a little extra to the final total to avoid any installation problems.
To attach the rope to the wooden posts, you can drill holes and thread the rope through, securing them in place with knots. Or we have a comprehensive selection of metal rope fittings available – in six popular finishes to suit both synthetic and natural ropes.
Which rope is best for a garden rope swing?
That’s an easy question to answer – synthetic hemp.
Flexible, soft-to-touch and gentle on the skin, it’s easy to grip and perfect for holding. It takes knots well. It’s super strong (crucial, for the obvious safety reasons!). And as it’s fully weatherproof and resistant to UV, rot, mould and mildew, it’s one of the hardiest and most durable garden ropes available – lasting for many years outside completely issue-free. I.e. all the traits you’d want for a safe and sturdy, attractive and long-lasting rope swing.
Before placing your order, we’d advise measuring carefully.
If you plan to hang the swing from a tree branch, start by measuring the circumference of the branch. For the drop, measure the distance between the branch and the height of the swing seat. Then simply add the two measurements together. If you’re hanging it from a beam, measure the distance between the beam and the swing sweat – taking into account the length of your chosen fixings (e.g. the J hooks).
Either way, we’d recommend 12mm synthetic hemp for a child’s swing or 16mm or thicker for an adult’s swing. Rather than cutting one length in half yourself, it’s usually better to buy two lengths – and have us cut and seal them properly. It can also be worth investing in some synthetic hemp extension ropes. Not only do these make the rope swing much easier to install, they also allow you to adjust its length accordingly.
Do garden ropes shrink when they get wet?
Some garden ropes will shrink – specifically, those made from natural fibres such as manila, jute, flax hemp, sisal, etc. When these come into contact with rain, dew or humidity, the fibres quickly absorb the water – which causes them to swell or expand in width, and shrink in length.
It’s difficult to say how much these natural fibre ropes will shrink. This will depend on several factors, including which natural fibre you choose, how wet the rope gets and for how long.
So when purchasing the rope, it’s important to keep in mind – if you intend to keep it in wet or damp conditions – the actual diameter and length will change naturally. To err on the side of caution, we’d always recommend adding an extra 10-15% to the total length.
Alternatively, you could opt for synthetic hemp instead. This mimics the traditional appearance of natural hemp, without the shrinkage issue. It will offer a reliable and consistent length, no matter how wet or damp it becomes in your garden, as well as superior strength, durability and resistance to rot, mould and mildew.
Which is the most environmentally friendly rope for gardens?
For eco-conscious shoppers, perhaps unsurprisingly, natural ropes are the best option.
In most cases, these do exactly what they say on the tin – they’re 100% natural. For example, manila ropes are made using fibres from the abacá plant. Jute ropes are crafted from fibres taken from the bark of a jute plant. Sisal ropes are derived from the leaves of the agave sisalana.
To grow successfully, these plants don’t rely heavily on fertilisers or pesticides. Compared to some other crops, they also don’t lead to soil erosion and consume significantly less energy. As such, they’re fully renewable and have minimal impact on the environment. They’re also biodegradable – meaning they break down naturally and minimise pollution.
An ideal choice for anyone looking for an eco-friendly garden rope, that looks good – giving the garden a rustic, natural aesthetic – whilst also doing good and protecting the planet.
Why choose us for garden rope?
RopesDirect is home to one of the largest collections of rope for garden and outdoor use. And customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do.
To ensure our customers are happy with their garden rope, we:
- Supply the highest quality products.
- Price competitively and affordably.
- Keep our warehouse well stocked with the full collection of garden ropes.
- Strive to offer a very fast turnaround, with orders placed by midday typically delivered in 1-2 days.
- Remain experts in our field. We have excellent knowledge of all the ropes available in our store and we’re always happy to help.
So if you have any questions or would like advice on the best garden rope for your requirements, please feel free to get in touch and we’ll respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.