Uses for Square Lashing

A square lashing, named for the "square," or 90-degree turns of the wrapping, is used to bind two poles contacting each other from angles of 45 degrees to 90 degrees. A properly tied square lashing is tight and secure, firmly binding the poles to one another. For all applications of square lashing, the cross pole should be positioned so the force applied to it will be directed to the other pole. If done correctly, there are many different uses for square lashings.

  1. Camping

    • When camping, there are a number of ways a square lashing bind can be useful. Typically there are an abundance of trees, sticks and branches to use as poles in camping areas, and you should only need to provide some rope. Using two trees spaced a few feet apart, square lash a horizontal pole on each side of the trees at the same height. This can be used as a table for camping gear. For more support, lash smaller poles at 90-degree angles to the longer poles to fill in the table top. A single pole can be lashed higher up on a pair of trees to create a pole for drying clothing or hanging trash and food off the ground. A shelter can even be created by employing the same method as the table top on a larger set of poles. In this situation, try and lash your cross poles as close together as possible. A second set of poles could also be lashed perpendicular to the first to seal off the spaces from rain.

    Fences

    • A simple employment of square lashing can be used to create a fence. Sturdy poles can be inserted into the ground as far as necessary so they stand rigidly on their own. For a permanent fence, they can be cemented into the ground. For a simple split-rail fence, lash a horizontal pole a few feet from the ground, and another pole parallel to it a few feet higher. Continue this for as many fence posts as you have standing. For a more complete fence, start with the split-level construction, and then lash vertical poles to the horizontal poles. Space them as close together as necessary, depending on how secure your fence is intended to be.

    Rafts

    • A floating raft can be created with square lashing and wooden poles. Use bamboo because it is light and hollow. Space three poles of about 6 inches in thickness on the ground evenly for the width of your raft. Cover the bottom poles with tightly spaced poles running perpendicular to them. Now place three more poles so that they directly on top of the bottom three poles. Lash the middle poles tightly to the top and bottom layers of base poles.

    Gardening

    • A square lashing can serve a variety of purposes in a home garden. For gardening, try using PVC pipe for the poles because it will withstand weather and water without rotting. It is also inexpensive and easy to cut. The rope should be made of nylon or some other weather-resistant material. A square lashing can be used with the poles to create a trellis for hanging tomatoes. An enclosure can be formed with poles and lashing to create a garden box. If you are gardening in a small space, or square-foot gardening, the square lashings can be used for segmenting the different crops within the grow area.