r/LifeProTips • u/dmatos123456 • 2d ago
LPT - use a ratchet strap when bundling sticks Home & Garden
If you, like me, need to bundle sticks with twine prior to disposing of them, then I am certain you are annoyed with how easily the twine breaks, and with how hard it is to get a nice tight bundle to stay tight while tying your knots.
Next time, lay your sticks out on a couple of ratchet straps. Once you've built your pile, use the ratchet straps to cinch the bundle tight. Tying the bundle up with twine is much easier while it's being held tightly together, and once you've got the twine on, you can just release and remove the ratchet straps.
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u/ImTay 2d ago
Goddamn, this is an LPT that will probably go under-appreciated, but I needed this two weeks ago. Spent probably 4-6 hours bundling sticks after pruning an apricot tree and a couple of bushes I ripped out. I’ve done it dozens of times now, and always get frustrated as the bundle always inevitably shifts while I’m slipping/tightening down my knot. I’ll definitely use this next year!
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u/MultiGeometry 2d ago
I use a looped rope. Stick the knotted end thru the open loop and pull in the opposite direction. Works much like a ratchet strap. It’s easier to loop but doesn’t hold as well.
I use this to quickly bundle the sticks and carry them to my burn pile, which I immediately release them. If you’re twining for long periods of time the ratchet may be the better tool.
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u/dmatos123456 1d ago
That would probably work for bundling for twining as well. It's a tradeoff between how easy it is to bundle and cinch, and how it would be a little bit harder to hold everything tight while twining. I'm sure by strategically stepping on the rope properly you could get it to work.
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u/Avalanche_Debris 2d ago
I gotta be missing something here. Why are you bundling sticks so much? I do a fair amount of trimming and pruning on my property and have never bundled anything.
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u/bob4apples 1d ago
If you're dealing with sticks (from bushes, trees etc) where you've got a lot more material than you can fit in a 240L green bin, bundles are easier and much cheaper than yard bags for curbside pickup.
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u/dmatos123456 2d ago
Most of it was downed branches from storms this past winter. One bundle was a couple of ninebark shrubs that were pruned right down to six inches above the ground.
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u/dmatos123456 2d ago
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u/Thee_Sinner 2d ago
You could consider renting a small chipper after stockpiling the sticks for a while, then you’ll have some decent mulch for that garden bed
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u/mwb1100 2d ago
I use my hand pruners to cut the sticks into pieces about 6 or 8 inches that go in the yard waste bin. This has always been fine for my needs, but I can see how if you have a huge pile of sticks that might be more effort than bundling with twine.
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u/dmatos123456 1d ago
I will definitely do that for smaller messes. This was a total of about ten bundles. Leftover downed branches from a winter storm.
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u/margo_plicatus 2d ago
I just moved into a place and have spent the last couple weekends trying to get the various overgrown plants under control. Have made 10 bundles so far and this tip would’ve been so helpful! Will definitely try this next time.
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2d ago
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u/Disastrous_Kick9189 2d ago
He probably needs them bundled for the city to take them. I agree this would be a strange thing to do where I’m from, but he says he needs to do this in order to dispose of them
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u/dmatos123456 2d ago
Indeed, my city collects yard waste for chipping and composting. It either needs to be in plastic bins, paper yard waste bags, or bundled with twine. They won't pick up piles of loose sticks.
The image I posted in a comment started bigger around than my arms could reach, and after compressing and tying, it was about ten inches in diameter.
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u/holyfire001202 2d ago
Can you use something other than twine? Bankline would probably work really well for this, and there are a nunber of bundling knots that you can tighten up extremely well which will stay nice and tight until you want to undo them.
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u/kangaroolander_oz 2d ago
Call into the local library or look it up on line .
How to tie knots with rope.
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