How To Make Wattle Fence Woven Garden Beds
Creating woven garden beds using a wattle fence is a beautiful way to enhance your garden. This eco-friendly method uses natural materials like branches and twigs to create beautiful, rustic planters that add charm to any outdoor space.
Yield: 1 bed
Cost: $15
Equipment
- 1 Shovel
- 1 Rubber hammer
- 1 Pruning shears
Materials
- 1 bundle Long, flexible branches or straight stems (willow, hazel, or any pliable wood or flexible saplings )
- 1 bundle Wooden stakes or posts
- 1 roll Twine or wire for tying
Instructions
- 1. Choose a Location: Find a sunny area in your garden and clear it of weeds and debris. Loosen the soil with a shovel or garden fork to create a level surface.
- 2. Gather Materials: Collect long, flexible branches like willow or hazel for weaving the wattle fence. Cut sturdy wooden stakes and drive them into the ground at regular intervals around the perimeter of the garden bed area.
- 3. Construct the Perimeter: Secure the stakes or posts along the perimeter, leaving space around existing raised planter boxes if applicable. Hammer stakes at each corner and weave thick branches between them in a crisscross pattern.
- 4. Weave The Wattle Fence: Begin weaving branches around the stakes, overlapping them slightly for a tight weave. Fill in gaps with slender branches until reaching the desired height.
- 5. Fill in the Woven Fence: Add more branches to strengthen the structure, securing beds to existing boxes if needed. Trim any loose pieces for a neat finish.
- 6. Add The Soil: Fill the garden beds with a mixture of soil and compost, ensuring good drainage and fertility.
- 7. Plant Your Garden: Choose a variety of plants and shrubs to fill the beds, watering and caring for them regularly to help them thrive.
Notes
Deb's Tips
- Check the garden fence for damage like loose weaves, gaps, or wear, and fix any issues by filling in spaces with small branches.
- Each year, apply a protective layer to the wood using a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine, applied with a rag or paintbrush, to extend its lifespan, especially in snowy winters.