Turning Dreaded Buckthorn Into an English Wattle Fence
Buckthorn is a noxious shrub/tree that destroys our woods. I needed to make a fence to hide a compost pile. I'd seen beautiful English wattle fences and decided to cut buckthorn branches to make it. First, I cut down a bunch of branches before they'd leafed out in the Spring. Then I set few treated posts into concrete and "wove" the branches back and forth like a basket. It was easy! I capped the posts with 1x12 cedar and then stained it to match the buckthorn "basket".
Buckthorn was about to take over the woods next to my house.
I chose early spring to build this before the Buckthorn had leafed out. I chose branches that were between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. Length varied.
Cutting off the branches created uniform wattle sticks.
I set the posts about 3 feet apart careful to make sure the tops were even. When the concrete had set, I wove the twig back and forth like a basket. I pushed them down to form a tight weave. Then I trimmed off the ragged ends. I used steel wire to tie off the ends. Then I cut 1x12 planks and 1x2 pieces to create the cap on the fence. I then stained the cedar to match the wattle. We've planted English ivy to grow on the fence as well.
Even in the winter it looks great in a rustic way!
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Do not use English Ivy. Very pretty but invasic
ve. I bought property with about 1/3 acre covered in ivy. I tholought I could get rid of it. It is tenacious.
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Never thought I would say something like this, but this is so beautiful!
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Do you think young bamboo can be done this way.
Such a pretty, natural looking fence!! Great job!! I love the look of it!
Do you think I could weave some branches in a regular metal fence?
Anybody mention good ol' American cane? About same as bamboo....probably thinner & more flexible especially if cut green.