There’s quite a long list of ropes you could use in your garden or outdoor space. However, they can all be divided into two main categories – natural or synthetic.

People frequently ask us: which type will be better for my project?

But there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all answer to this. In fact, that’s why we stock such a wide range of garden ropes in the first place – so that our customers have a choice and can select the garden rope that best suits their unique preferences and requirements.

The ideal option for you will depend on several factors, including how you wish to use the rope, how you want it to look, how you hope it will perform (short-term and long-term) etc. So to help with your decision, here we take a brief look at some of the benefits of each.

 

Natural garden ropes

 

• A traditional aesthetic

Naturally sourced and natural in their appearance.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, natural garden ropes all have a ‘classic rope’ look and feel.

Their rugged and rustic aesthetic looks fantastic in a garden environment, perfectly complementing any timberwork, planting and foliage. They have a slightly rougher texture than synthetic options, yet they remain pleasant to handle.

An attractive choice for decking, rope fences, lawn edging, rose swags and more.

 

• Eco-friendly

Trying to do your bit for the environment?

In most cases, natural ropes do exactly what they say on the tin – they’re 100% natural.

For example, manila ropes are made using fibres solely from the abacá plant. Jute ropes are crafted using fibres harvested from the bark of a jute plant – such as corchorus olitorius or corchorus capsularis. Sisal rope fibres are derived from the leaves of the agave sisalana.

As such, they’re renewable, biodegradable and have minimal impact on the environment.

A more eco-friendly option compared to synthetic ropes, which are typically manufactured from man-made fibres, such as polypropylene, nylon and polyester.

 

• Underestimated performance

Whilst they certainly can’t compete with synthetic products in terms of their strength and durability, natural fibre ropes are still pretty tough. They will break down much quicker in an outdoor environment. Yet they can actually survive many years outdoors, without any issues.

They’re inherently strong, typically with a good minimum breaking strength. They’re resilient to wear and tear and harsh weather conditions. They’re great in high temperatures and can stand up to UV rays and abrasion. Plus, they can be pretty resistant to the effects of water.

Natural fibres tend to shrink when they get wet, but this can be easily offset by adding an extra 10-15% to the length. And generally speaking, you can subject the ropes to continuous damp or even wet conditions for many years, and they will easily maintain their integrity.

 

Our recommended natural ropes for garden use:

• Manila rope – available to buy by the metre, on reels and in coils, in diameters ranging from 6mm to 60mm.
• Flax Hemp rope – from 6mm to 36mm
• Jute rope – sold by the metre, wound on reels or in large coils to match your requirements. (note – the jute rope that we stock has a synthetic core, made of polypropylene, to add strength)
• Sisal rope – for purchase in reels, coils and by the metre in thicknesses ranging from 6mm to 40mm.

 

 

Synthetic garden ropes

 

• Superior performance

When strength and durability are the priority, you can’t go wrong with a synthetic rope.

The hardiest option out of the two, they tend to be around 20% stronger than most natural garden ropes. And are specifically designed to be robust and resilient in the outdoors; fully weatherproof, UV stabilised and with excellent resistance to rot, mould and mildew.

Needing very little maintenance, they can be left in your garden for many years – subject to prolonged damp conditions and wear and tear – and will still do the job just as well.

 

• No shrinkage

Unlike natural fibres, synthetic ropes don’t absorb water. Which means, the fibres don’t swell when they come into contact with rain, dew or humidity – and you don’t get the same issue of shrinkage. If you need an outdoor rope that can offer you a consistent length, as well as continuous strength and integrity, synthetic options are likely to be more reliable.

 

• Easy on the skin

Synthetic garden ropes may be a tough cookie, but they can be  a big softie on the surface.

Several are soft-to-touch and kind to the skin, whilst still being easy to grip. Making them a good choice for handrails, plus children’s play equipment such as rope swings and ladders.

 

• Range of colours and finishes

In terms of style, there’s much to choose from.

If you’re hoping for a ‘traditional rope’ look, natural garden ropes aren’t your only option. Synthetic hemp, for example, has a deceptively authentic look and feel. By combining its impressive performance properties (e.g. strength, durability, resilience) with a pleasing rustic aesthetic, it offers the best of both worlds and would look fantastic in any garden. It is one we recommend, and sell a lot of.

Or maybe you’re eager to brighten up your outdoor space?

PolySilk is a soft, colourful and luxurious synthetic alternative, which currently comes in seven eye-catching colours: red, purple, white, black, silver grey, navy and pink. Despite only recently being introduced to our garden rope collection, it’s already proven a very popular choice, particularly for home decking, garden rope fences, outdoor lighting and other creative projects.

 

Our recommended synthetic ropes for garden use:

• Synthetic hemp – available to buy in large coils, reels and by the metre in diameters ranging from 4mm to 65mm.
• PolySilk – each colour is stocked in 24mm diameters and sold by the metre.
• Coloured Polypropylene rope – it looks synthetic, no doubt. But it has its place for things like trailing, lighting or making funky looking woven chair seats.
• Polyester rope – traditionally used in boating circles, this looks perfect in an outdoors nautical setting. We’ve seen customers use polyester ropes in marinas, around water features and in rope rails.

 

 

Made your decision?

Whichever side of the (garden) fence you fall on – natural or synthetic – all products in our garden rope collection are priced competitively and affordably. Plus, we always keep the warehouse fully stocked, allowing us to offer fast 1-2 day delivery on all orders.

So why not browse the range, choose your side and add an outdoor rope to your basket?

If you’re still a little unsure, lots of additional information on our garden and outdoor ropes can be found throughout the website – particularly in our ‘Help Choosing Rope’ section and in our previous blog  ‘Which is the best rope for garden use?’.

You’re also welcome to contact us at any time. Just submit a message using our online form or send an email to info@ropesdirect.co.uk and we’ll respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.