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Wicker decorative fence. How to make wattle in the country. Video about the construction of wicker fences

Wicker fence - interesting solution for fencing flower beds, front gardens or the entire territory of the site. This type of fence came to us from ancient times, when few yards could do without it, but it remains relevant to this day. At first glance, the technology of weaving it may seem complicated, but in reality, with a little effort, you can easily give your yard or summer cottage originality by making wattle with your own hands. To do this, you only need to stock up necessary material, as well as get acquainted with the methods of constructing such a fence and the features of its operation.

Advantages and disadvantages of wicker fencing

Wicker fencing will decorate any site

Wattle can give a unique rural flavor to any yard, but, in addition to its decorative function, it also has other advantages:

affordability (the cost of its construction is minimal);
ease of assembly design;
environmental friendliness;
the ability to dispose of waste from pruning bushes or trees, putting them on the fence material.

But there are also disadvantages. The main one is a short service life. To increase the period of operation of the fence, you will need to pre-treat the materials with an antiseptic or varnish them after assembly. You also need to consider that such a fence cannot serve as a reliable protection for your site due to its fragility. This problem can be solved by placing a decorative wicker fence in front of a more durable one, for example, brick or mesh.

The main types of weaving

Before stocking up on materials for the fence, you should decide which pattern you will use for it. Types of weaving can be different, here are the main ones:

Horizontal. This type of weaving is the most popular and quite simple to implement - flexible long branches (at least 2 m in length) are laid horizontally between pre-installed vertical supports. For the convenience of work, the step of the supports should not be less than 30 cm.
Vertical. To build a fence in this way, you should install a horizontal frame and weave boards or rods vertically into it. It should be borne in mind that their length should not exceed the desired height of the fence by more than 20 cm.
Inclined. With this version of weaving, the supports are installed close to each other, after which branches are woven diagonally between them.

Types of weaving

There is no significant difference in functionality between them, so the choice depends only on your preferences and skills. If you do not have weaving experience, it is still better to stop at the simplest horizontal method.

hedge materials

The choice and preparation of materials for the fence is a responsible matter, because the strength and durability of your fence will depend on this. Consider the features of working with the most common of them.

Willow wicker fence

Willow is traditionally considered best material for weaving. To build a willow wicker fence, you will need to assemble a long and flexible vine. Usually it is not difficult to find it, since willow grows in abundance in almost any region of Russia.

Willow wicker fence

The optimal time for collecting branches is late autumn. Vine is desirable to choose a flat, without branches. To make blanks out of it, the branches are connected into bundles and dried for a while. After that, you need to pick up strong rods (at least 4 cm thick) for the basics, and you can start weaving.

Wicker fence made of branches

If you don’t have a willow nearby, you can use young branches of a hazel, alder, birch, cherry or apple tree. The main condition is that they must bend well, so freshly prepared rods are taken for work. If the branches have already dried out, you need to soften them by soaking them in water for several days.

Before starting work with blanks, remove all knots and buds. Also, to make a wicker fence made of branches look more aesthetic, you can remove the bark from them and then cover them with paint, varnish or stain.

Wicker fence refreshes

Wicker board fence

For such a fence, you will need planed boards (necessarily long, not shorter than 2-2.5 m), treated with a primer and an antiseptic, as well as sufficiently strong wooden or metal supports with a diameter of 6-10 cm. Supports for greater structural stability must be concreted.

Note! So that the lower part of the wooden fence does not deteriorate from excessive moisture, it must end at least 15 cm from the ground.

For decoration, a wicker fence made of boards, after installation is completed, can be painted or coated with colored varnish. In the future, to extend the life of the fence, decorative coating it is recommended to update every 2-3 years.

Wattle from boards

Below are a few useful tips, which will facilitate the process of creating a fence and make the structure itself more stable and durable.

Foundation for supports

Foundation for supports

Whatever material for the fence and the type of weaving you choose, any fence needs a solid foundation. To fix the pillars, two types of foundation are usually used:

separate cabinets for supports;
monolithic strip base.

Section weaving

If the raw material for the hedge is not a board, but rather flexible branches or willow vines, this opens up more opportunities for creating unusual patterns. But, before starting work, it is worth drawing the desired weaving pattern on cardboard, and then trying to make a small sample. So you can check whether it will be possible to implement such an option from your materials and, if necessary, correct the scheme.

Note! From a vine or flexible boards (shingles), in addition to a fence, you can create beautiful wicker arbors in the form of a niche and flowerpots that will help maintain a unified design style for the site.

How to decorate wattle: decorating secrets

Of course, wicker fences are beautiful on their own, but it's up to you to make them even more attractive. Let's try to figure out how to decorate the fence with your own hands and without high costs.

Decorative elements such as pots or jugs put on top pegs will add a special touch to the wicker fence. Various items of rural life will be successfully combined with it - wooden furniture, a cart made of rough-hewn boards or a wheel from it, a decorative windmill, etc.

Beautiful wattle

Wicker sculptures will complement the picture - figurines of birds or balls placed on the fence.

The stone also looks appropriate, so near the hedge you can create or paved garden paths.

Do not forget about. Placed along the wattle fence in pots and flowerpots, or simply planted nearby, they will bring bright notes to the exterior of the fence. Sunflowers and climbing varieties of plants will look especially good - sweet peas, imopee, climbing roses and others.

Flowers refresh the fence

As you can see, wattle can become not only a fence, but also an important part of the decor of your yard or summer cottage.

Wicker fences: photos of hedges in landscape design

AT recent times rural style is becoming more and more popular, and all kinds of wicker products are firmly included in the landscape design of cottages and personal plots. Wicker fences, photos of which are presented below, will help you get inspired to create your own little village paradise.

Wattle does not have to be an independent fence, it looks quite organic and as an addition to the main stone fence.

An interesting solution is a wicker fence combined with a gazebo. Such a fence will not only decorate the yard, but also shelter from the sun in the summer heat.

On the fence of the yard, the functions of the wattle fence do not end. A pretty flower bed framed with willow branches will successfully fit into the design of your site.

If you already have a solid metal fence and there is no need to demolish it, but you would like to decorate it, you can use a simplified version of weaving by simply inserting suitable branches between the mesh or securing them with wire.

Those who live near a coniferous forest may like this fence made of large pine branches. However, wood of other species can be adapted in a similar way.

If you are tired of the usual chain-link mesh that serves as a fence for your land, put a little imagination, diligence and ... make an original wicker fence. To master the basic principles of its creation, it will not take so much time, because the main "problem" that usually baffles those who are thinking about how to make a wicker fence is finding the material for its manufacture.

What is a wicker fence made of?

A wicker fence should be created from flexible branches (for example, from hazel or willow). They should be cut in late autumn, when the leaves of the trees have already been shed, but the movement of juice in them has not yet stopped. “Hunting” should go out with a pre-prepared “measurement” (a branch that has the length you need can act as its role), and cut only those branches that fit you in size.

In addition to flexible branches for a wicker fence, you will also need thicker branches, but also necessarily straight ones, which will serve as supports in the fence. The thickness of the supporting branches should not be less than 4 centimeters, and the length should be equal to the height of the fence plus 50-55 centimeters (it is at this depth that you will drive them into the ground).

Types of weaving

Since there are several ways to make a wicker fence, it is worth talking about them in more detail:

Vertical weaving - for such a fence, the supports should be fixed both vertically (pillars) and horizontally (the basis for weaving the fence). With this type of weaving, the length of the bent branches should be only 15-20 centimeters more than the final height of the fence.
Horizontal weaving is a weaving method more familiar to us, in which long flexible branches (at least 2 meters long) are laid horizontally between vertical supports. In this case, the step of the supports should not be less than 30 centimeters (otherwise it will be difficult for you to bend the branches).
Inclined weaving is another option for creating a wicker fence, in which some branches are braided diagonally between often located supports:

Create a fence

The creation of a wicker fence, regardless of the type of weaving used, should begin with the installation of supports. It is customary not to bury branches that serve this purpose, but to hammer them to a depth of at least 50 centimeters (otherwise the fence may tip over under gusts of wind). When driving support branches, do not forget to check their verticality, otherwise the fence will turn out to be crooked and ugly.

The next stage is the weaving of the fence itself. Since the branches are not connected to the supports, if you don’t get a beautiful result on the first try, you can disassemble it and try again. The fences look original, in which the branches are staggered not one, but two or three.

You can join branches along the length in one of two ways:

By breaking the entire fence into "sections", that is, you will make a clear border separating all the branches (from the bottom to the top of the fence) on the left and right. Such a border should fall on the gap between the branches-supports of the fence.
Complementing each completed branch with another, without focusing on this point. With this method of weaving, it is better to fasten the branches at the junction with thin wire to create the illusion of an “endless” line.

All joints should not be located in one place, but should be evenly distributed along the entire length of the fence.

Pros and cons of a wicker fence

Choosing for themselves the option with a wicker fence, as its undoubted advantages, they note:

environmental friendliness - only natural materials are used,
originality and uniqueness
the ability to give the fence a curvilinear shape,
ease of assembly
no need to concrete supports or pour strip foundation under the fence
its height depends only on the desire of its creator.

But the wicker fence made of branches also has disadvantages:

it's not very durable
combustible,
support branches will rot in the ground in 3-4 years,
suitable only for land plots decorated in a rustic style.

Alternatively, instead of a wicker fence made of branches, you can install its plastic imitation on your site.

Such a PVC fence, having appearance conventional wicker fence made of branches:

firstly, it will last much longer than its natural counterpart;
secondly, it can be disassembled and rearranged to another place;
thirdly, it has an even top and side frame, which gives it a more presentable look than a simple wicker fence.

Video

And here you will see how to make a fence using the vertical weaving technique:

A photo

Wattle is a rather colorful fence created in ethnic style. Previously, the wattle fence or, as it was also called, "tyn" was required attribute every yard in the countryside. Over time, people abandoned such fences, because there were more modern materials: metal, brick, cement. Circumstances have become more serious, and fences - stronger. But today, more and more often, such a decorative design element as wattle can be seen only in the rural outback, but also in modern household plots, and located even in the center of the metropolis. Wattle can be made in the country with your own hands, and it is not at all necessary to assign security functions to it - with the help of such a fence you can enclose a flower bed, flower garden, garden, recreation area, gazebo, etc. This building will fit very nicely into any interior, especially if you want to add a touch of ethnic style.

Wicker fence will give personal plot not only a rural look, but also a special sincerity. Especially wattle looks great if you add ethnic design solutions- it will give a special flavor to your home.

Wattle: advantages:

Made from ecological material.
It is inexpensive.
Easy to make.
Can be disassembled and reassembled several times.
original solution.
An excellent decorative element.
Any material can be used for construction: not only the branches that remained after the rejuvenation of shrubs and trees, but also thin PVC pipes.

Wattle: disadvantages:

Short-lived.
It is used only as a decoration, as it does not carry the full functions of a fence.
It breaks quickly, even with a little physical effort.

Today wattle can be seen in ethno cafes and restaurants, kindergartens and playgrounds. This fence is beautiful and is often used as decoration for recreation areas. The fence looks very original in a large city, surrounded by all the benefits of civilization. But in its own area, the wattle fence can enclose a flower bed, lawn, gazebo, barbecue, the main thing is to choose the right accessories and design.

To make your impromptu wicker fence a success and last as long as possible, remember these simple tips:

The durability of the fence depends on the speed with which the branches rot, therefore, in order for the fence to serve faithfully for as long as possible, you need to help it in this - protect it from rotting. The cheapest antiseptic is car oil - they need to treat the surface of the branches. A significant disadvantage of this tool: the branches will become dark in color, and it will be contraindicated to touch the fence - the oil does not absorb and does not dry out, which means that the wattle fence will leave greasy marks on any object that touches it.
Another way to extend the life of the wattle fence is a drainage layer that will prevent branches from contacting the ground. As drainage, you can use crushed stone or sand, or both. First you need to dig a trench - 50 cm deep, then fill up the drainage layers and install vertical pegs.
In order to protect the support pegs, the part that will be underground must be charred. You can often also lubricate this with bitumen.
To facilitate the installation of pegs, you can first drive a crowbar into the ground - this forms a kind of hole. Now you can quickly install pegs into these holes.
Weave a wattle fence by tying the branches between the stakes. To prevent the lower and upper branches from slipping off the pegs, it is necessary to tie the first and last branch with wire to the middle branches.
You should not use dry branches that have been lying for a long time to create wattle, because they do not have elasticity. As soon as you try to bend such material a little, the branch will immediately crack. That is why soaked branches are needed - they will soften, after which it will be possible to do more interesting things with them.
To create a beautiful wattle fence, choose the same branches - both in thickness and in length.
When choosing branches for pegs, remember that 50 cm will be hidden underground, which means that the length should correspond to the height of the fence.
If you do not weave 10 cm to the top, then you can use to decorate the pegs with decorative elements.
Think over the decor elements - the wattle fence looks much richer if it is decorated with traditional rural "decorations".
The wattle fence can be screwed to a chain-link mesh or a metal fence - this way you will not only decorate your home, but also hide the yard from prying eyes.

How to make wattle: preparatory stage

Wattle: how to prepare material

Have you firmly decided to build a wattle fence with your own hands? Then you need to know the secrets of harvesting the material.

Raw materials for the manufacture of wattle are harvested in January - at this time you definitely will not harm the trees.
Go to the forest or any other place where trees grow and where you can freely cut the required number of branches.
The branches must be flexible and have a length of at least 50 cm and a diameter of at least 1-2 cm.
Experiment: pick branches different colors and shades.
Before starting to weave a fence, the branches must be soaked for at least a day in water - in any container, so that the liquid completely covers the raw materials.

What branches are suitable for making wattle

For some reason, there is a stereotype according to which branches of such trees are ideal for wattle construction: willow, birch, apple tree, dogwood, walnut, pine. In fact, this is not entirely true, because wattle can be made from any type of wood.

Of course, the most successful choice is the long and flexible branches of trees and shrubs: willow and hazel. But if you dream up a little, then you can weave an excellent fence from other raw materials, for example, by collecting cattail (reeds), bunches of straw, birch, turf or even Amur grapes. Suitable for the manufacture of wattle fence annual shoots of aspen.

Give preference to straight and flexible branches of trees and shrubs that grow near water bodies. It is believed that it is these branches that are more saturated with moisture, they will have a small core and a very smooth surface.

If you turned your attention to straw, then take rye: it is more durable and has long internodes. If it is well wetted, then such a straw retains flexibility well, becomes elastic and suitable for weaving. In addition, this straw is very beautiful colour, although, in which case, the wattle of this material is easily painted with aniline paints - in any color that is favorable for you.

But to make a wattle fence from reeds (cattails), raw materials must be collected from August to October.

How to make wattle: work process

First of all, you need to decide on the material from which you will weave the fence. Then - with a place to install it and decoration.

The wattle fence consists of a support (base) and a "body" of the fence (rods).

Wattle: preparing the base

As the basis of the wattle fence, you can use a wide variety of branches - pegs that are driven into the ground at approximately the same distance from each other.
The pegs must be driven into the ground by at least 20 cm, but in order for the structure to withstand even strong winds and ground settlement, it is necessary to deepen the branches by 50 cm.
The diameter of the pegs for the base must be at least 5 cm.
The most reliable stakes are obtained from larch.
Wooden pegs can be replaced with metal or plastic ones. For these purposes, both fittings and PVC pipes can be used. They can be painted in a color convenient for you, and plugs can be put in hollow pipes. Due to this, the structure will be able to stand for a very long time.
If you use wooden stakes, treat them with an antiseptic, varnish, Pinotex impregnation, paints - this will prevent the rotting process and improve the strength of the base. Sections are best charred or treated with an antiseptic.
Do not forget to make drainage for the base - from sand and gravel.
Pegs should stand at a distance of no more than 50 cm, but it is better to place them more often - about 30-40 cm apart.
The height of the fence is selected individually.

Wattle: preparing rods

The most important requirement for rods is flexibility.
If you do not have freshly cut rods, you need to soak those that were cut a long time ago for a day. But if the rods are in the water for too long, they may turn black.
You can soften the rods with steam - arrange a steam bath for them and they will become more flexible. Can also be placed under wet burlap.
The rods can be painted in any color - with paints or vegetable dyes. For example, a yellow fence will be due to onion peel and birch leaves, and brown due to a decoction of branches and black alder. You can use potassium permanganate, stain, etc.
Before you start painting, you need to remove tannins - they are found in the bark of many plants. In order to do this, you need to put a branch in a soapy solution for a couple of hours.
If you are not going to paint the branches, then you should not peel them from the bark - this way the wattle fence will look very natural.

Weave horizontal wattle

Take straight and thick rods (rebar, pipe, etc.) and build the foundation of the future fence.
If the branches are thin, place them closer to each other.
Take a branch and thread it in turn between all the vertical rods.
Do not forget that the branch should braid the bars in turn: on the left side, then on the right side, and so on, until the end of the fence (fence section).
Weaving starts from the thick end of the branch!
Alternate weaving - the branches should take turns braiding the pegs, both from right to left and from left to right.
The next branch should not repeat the path of the previous one: if you started braiding the first peg on the right, then the next branch should braid it on the left, then the next branch will braid it on the right, etc.
The thick and thin ends of the branches should be evenly distributed along the fence.
The thickness of the wattle should be the same.
After you have reached the desired height of the fence, you need to trim the length of the branches - this can be done with a pruner or garden knife.
Do not forget about the locks - these are the ends of the rods that are attached with wire to pegs and other branches.

Weave vertical wattle

Pegs are driven in as described above.
Several branches are tied horizontally to the pegs - these are the strips to which the rest of the branches will be attached.
The branches are installed vertically - they braid the horizontal bars.
The thick end of the branches should rest against the ground.
The rods are tied from above: you can do this with wire or rope, or you can weave several branches horizontally.

PVC pipe wattle

If you have not prepared twigs for the construction of wattle, then you can build it from thin pvc pipes. The specifics of the work are exactly the same as with natural raw materials.

Cut the pipe into tubes of the required length. Vertical pegs should be longer.
Drive the stakes into the ground.
Braid the pegs with tubes, starting from the bottom: first on the left, then on the right, etc. until you run out of material or until you reach the desired length.
Cut off the sides of the pipes.

How to decorate wattle

It is believed that sunflowers and cornflowers were planted near the wattle fence - this is a classic decoration for this fence. A sunflower may well be artificial: plastic, polymer clay, fabric, etc.
Near the wattle fence, late chrysanthemum, chamomile, gladioli, asters, delphinium, nasturtiums look great.
Wattle can be a good support for climbing plants.
Near the wattle fence, you can put a colorful bench - knocked together from stumps and boards.
From above, clay pots, children's shoes, etc. can be hung on pegs.

Wicker fence has retained its relevance since ancient times, when weaving materials plant origin were the only improvised means for making hedges. These are all kinds of plants, branches, vines, sticks. In the modern world, there is a gradual return to natural materials, so it is not surprising that a fence made of rods is now gaining popularity for fencing summer cottages and household plots. It looks colorful, fits well into the design of almost any site, decorates it and protects it from prying eyes.

Wicker fence made of twigs

Advantages and disadvantages of wattle

First, we list the main advantages of a wicker fence:

Original appearance.
Ecological fencing.
A wicker fence does not require a foundation.
Possibility of installation in any place.
Simplicity and ease of installation.
Materials for making wattle are usually not purchased, but are free.
You can build a wicker fence with your own hands, without involving craftsmen for this purpose.
Such a fence is able to pass air to the site.
The fence can be given any shape, sometimes very original.
You can make a fence of any desired height.

A few disadvantages:

Wicker fences are not durable. They can be damaged mechanically.
The supports buried in the soil are in constant dampness, as a result of which they can in a few years. This drawback can be avoided if the lower parts of the supports are treated with special impregnations and then coated with a protective compound.
Through such a fence, one can see that in this moment takes place within the area.
A fence made of branches is prone to fire.

Materials for the manufacture of wattle

A do-it-yourself wicker fence can be woven from a variety of materials that are flexible, durable, easy to process, and weather resistant. Most often used:

Vine. It bends well, withstands severe frosts.
. The rods of this plant are unusually flexible, durable and pliable. They are smooth and highly durable. Fences of almost any height are made from willow twigs. For this, the rods are cut and then dried. Use completely dried shoots of the plant. Harvesting is done in autumn, when the trees shed their leaves.
Willow. Willow wicker fence is built very quickly, as willow branches are very even, durable and easy to install.
Hazel. Only young shoots of plants are used, which are harvested in early spring until the kidneys awaken. A hazel fence can be made using branches of various thicknesses.
Branches of various trees collected after spring pruning. It can be cherry, mulberry, birch, walnut, sweet cherry, apple tree, pear. It is better to use shoots aged 1-2 years, which are easy to weave. The so-called fattening shoots, which are usually removed from trees by gardeners, have proven themselves well for making hedges.

Types of weaving hedges

The main schemes of a wicker picket fence (for a general idea)

There are 3 main options for weaving a fence:

Horizontal weaving. This is the most popular type of wattle. The long branches of the plant are laid horizontally, located between the fixed vertical supports. The distance between the supports is selected depending on the flexibility of the branches. However, it should not be less than 30 cm. Otherwise, it will be difficult to lay branches.

Wicker fence made of willow in a horizontal design

Vertical weaving. In this case, a wicker fence implies the presence of two types of supports: vertical and horizontal. Mounted first vertical supports, on which the fence will be held, and then horizontal sticks are attached to them, between which vertical rods will be inserted.

Inclined weaving from rods. The weaving branches of the plant are located between the supports at a certain angle. This is a rather complicated version of weaving, so it is used in practice relatively rarely.

Independent construction of a wicker fence

We will analyze sequentially how to make a wattle fence with your own hands. This work is not particularly difficult, which is why such a fence can be built even by a person who does not have any building knowledge. For work, we need two types of raw materials:

Rods. These can be flexible branches or vines of any plant, the diameter of which is 1-3 cm. It is believed that thicker branches are used in the case of erecting a high fence. When they are harvested, the cuts are made at an angle.

It is recommended to weave a fence from freshly cut branches of a plant, since after a week of being in the air the branches dry out, and it will be difficult to braid them without damage. If overdrying of the branches is allowed, then they can be soaked in water or steamed in a bath.

Supports. It can be thick branches of a plant, sticks, stakes, wooden posts, metal pipes. If you prepare materials in advance, then you can cut the trunks of young trees in the fall, which will dry out over the winter. The fact is that freshly cut supports are not recommended, as they can warp when dried.

Do-it-yourself wattle in the country is mounted in the following sequence. First, they prepare for the installation of the support, and then weaving from willow or other branches is performed.

Selection and preparation of supports

First you need to decide on the height of the supports. They should exceed the calculated height of the fence by 50-70 cm. It is to this depth that the supports will go into the soil. For example, if the estimated height of the fence is 180 cm, then the height of the supports should be 230-250 cm. The lower the fence, the shallower the posts can be buried.

If wooden supports are used, then they need preliminary preparation. Since some of the supports will be in contact with the soil for a long time, the wood must be protected from moisture. To do this, the dried supports are impregnated with an antiseptic, and then covered with one of the protective compounds. It can be melted bitumen or liquid bituminous mastic, drying oil, waste oil or other composition available. The end of each support facing the ground must be sharpened if the supports are to be driven into the soil. If they dig in, there is no need to sharpen them.

Installation of supports

Wooden supports are driven in or dug into the ground. Since it is quite difficult to drive a wooden post into the soil without damaging it, it is recommended to use a garden drill. With its help, holes of the required depth are drilled in the soil, into which the supports are inserted. After that, the pits are tightly clogged with rubble, construction waste or ordinary earth. In some cases, thick pillars are concreted.

If metal pipes are used, then it is advisable to treat them with a primer, and then concrete them in the soil. A wicker fence on metal supports will be more durable, and after a certain time, the weaving can simply be replaced, leaving the old supports.

The distance between the installed supports should be about 40-50 cm. This will ensure the free weaving of the plant's rods. 2-3 extreme supports in a row can be placed closer to each other. This will ensure the rigidity of the structure.

Twig weaving

Prepared rods or branches are inserted between the supports. The very first branch is attached to the support with a wire. It is better to start inserting individual rods from thick ends, since thin ends can be bent and deformed more freely. During the installation process, you need to ensure that all cuts or ends of the rods are facing the inside of the fence. In this case, they will not be visible from the outside of the site, and the wicker fence will have a neater look.

In the process of weaving, it is allowed to fasten each individual branch to the supports. This is even welcome, because then the fence will be monolithic, and its integrity will not be broken by a gust of wind. At the joints of adjacent vines, it is also desirable to fasten the ends of the rods to each other by means of wire.

The joints of adjacent branches should be evenly distributed over the entire area of the intake section, and not be on the same line. Then the strength of the fence will be higher.

Weaving is carried out until all the spans between the supporting pillars are filled. The end rods are securely fixed with wire.

Wattle finish

The final step is to protect the rods from weather and pests. To do this, the fence is covered with a layer of antiseptic protective impregnation. This work is very desirable to perform on both sides of the fence.

Wooden wattle is good in itself. However, it can be decorated even more. You can do this in several ways:

Plant bindweed near the fence, which will curl up the bars. They will add greenery to your fence.
Decorate the supports with rustic items: clay pots, artificial flowers, flowerpots.
Cover the fence with wood stain. So it will be reliably protected from the effects of precipitation, and will take on a more presentable appearance. Stain or impregnation is best applied with a spray gun.

We looked at how to make a wicker fence on your site using improvised materials. One of important benefits such a fence is the possibility of replacing damaged rods or vines, as well as adding branches to the fence in case of drying out of the wood. This allows you to have on your site a very aesthetic and maintainable structure, built by yourself.

Wattle is a great way to give coziness to any country house and at the same time guard against unwanted visitors. It is an interweaving of flexible branches and twigs of various shrubs, such as hazel or willow. In Asia, rattan and bamboo are used for weaving.

In our country, willow is most often used in weaving. In our latitudes, it grows in in large numbers. Many species are suitable for weaving a hedge, but shrub willows are more suitable for this: three-stamen, as well as ordinary willow (holly willow).

What is braid made of

Willow products are not limited to weaving a decorative fence. From it you can weave details for decoration. Wicker furniture is very beautiful and no less comfortable - tables, armchairs, sofas. With the help of the vine, you can decorate the gazebo in an original way, make a bench, arrange a flower bed. It will easily become an ornament of an artificial pond or fountain, as it goes well with other elements. landscape design. All this will greatly enliven and decorate your site, making it unique.

Although weaving is not difficult to perform, you need to know about the subtleties in this work, so as not to regret the wasted time.

First of all, you need to know that the first shrub that comes across may not be suitable for weaving a hedge. After all, the durability and quality of weaving depends on the raw materials. Therefore, we recommend choosing only willow and hazel. The rods of these shrubs have such necessary qualities as longitudinal strength and high flexibility. But only residents of the southern regions can afford to use a nut for such purposes, at a time when this is considered a luxury for residents of central Russia. Willow, due to its wide distribution, can be used more actively. There are special places where they cultivate it. That is why baskets are mostly woven from willow.

The second nuance is that willow is easy to confuse with other shrubs similar to it, which can lead to their short-line service. This is dictated by the fact that their core can be loose or diseased.

The best time to harvest raw materials

The most favorable time for harvesting willow twigs is spring or late summer. In the spring, the main task will be in time for their sap flow, and therefore it is best to start harvesting in April and May. You can also make blanks at the end of summer and early autumn - August, September, October - before the soil freezes. And it is in autumn that the color of the bark of the rods becomes different shades - from milky green to burgundy, which are perfectly combined. Going for blanks is ideal on a sunny and dry day, because in such weather both the quality of the material and its storage lines improve significantly and work will bring more pleasure.

Material procurement technology

The rods must be chosen with a length of at least 1.5 meters and cut in such a way that an oblique cut is obtained. To do this, stock up on a sharp knife. Nature must be protected and therefore try to cut the vine in such a way as to leave 3-4 buds above the ground, this will help the shrub recover faster.

Get rid of the leaves on the spot, which is easy to do by running your hand over the rod "against the wool." If you needed rods without bark (barked rod) as a blank, then stock up on a “pinch” that will help clear the rod from the bark. It can be easily done right on the spot. To do this, you need a rod 50 cm high and 4-5 cm in diameter. Make a gap with a knife, wrap the stick with wire or tape so that a split of 12-15 cm remains. The resulting barked rods are good as a finish, it is more convenient to decorate, paint, bleach. It is these rods that are used for weaving baskets. But you need to know about the reverse side of the coin. Such rods are more difficult to store and then soak.

Pine stakes with a diameter of about 5 cm are used as the basis for the wattle fence. They are driven into the ground at a distance of 0.4 - 0.5 meters, but it is important to take into account the severity of the rods - the heavier they are, the greater the distance between the stakes. From below, the stakes are sharpened, treated with vitriol or hot bitumen, and then they are driven into the ground by about 25 cm. To prevent warping of the wattle during operation, planks are nailed between the stakes.

Vine pretreatment

In our work we use thick rods with a diameter of 15 - 30 mm. But it is better to cut them off immediately before work, since soaking such thick rods is very inconvenient. If this is not possible, then the rods should be dried. The rods are dried in the fresh air under the sun's rays. The rods are considered well dried when the vine loses its original flexibility. After that, they are sorted according to thickness, size and tied into sheaves. In this form, they are stored in a dry, cool place (a barn, on or outside, after wrapping them in polyethylene). The appearance of mold on the vine indicates its further unsuitability and violations during storage.

The dried vine is placed in a bath of warm water before use. You can also use a large vat, but in extreme cases, you can lower the blanks into a river or stream. The main condition is that the material must be completely covered with water. When the rods become as flexible as freshly cut.

We make blanks for weaving

We begin to work only with well-soaked rods, in which the juice began to circulate again. Such rods regain their flexibility and are easy to use. A steam bath also returns flexibility. After it, the tree becomes flexible, and after drying, the vine becomes as strong as before, plus it acquires and maintains the necessary shape. But this method is not suitable for material coated with varnish or painted with any other paint.

For weaving a large one, as a rule, they take rods with a thickness of 2 to 3 cm. If you want to make a decorative fence, then use thinner rods - 1-2 cm.

To save light color wood, fresh blanks need to be dried. You can also use summer blanks, their rod will be more easily cleaned of bark. But the color of the vine will not be white, which is easy to fix with hydrogen peroxide. Using a solution of potassium permanganate, on the contrary, you can give the vine a brown tint. If your idea needs a dark brown color, use a stain, and to get a grayish brown, use a solution blue vitriol. Thus, you can create a colored wattle.

Also finished products can be coated with a matte varnish, which will give the product a little gloss, but will not change its natural appearance, as can happen when using a glossy varnish.

Preparing the workplace and weaving the frame

First of all, take care of your workplace, because weaving and preparing the material is monotonous and boring work. Therefore, you should get a comfortable chair or armchair, take care of the place where you will put the cleaned vine and, accordingly, the cleaning - the bark. Stock up on all the necessary tools for making your decorative fence - a sharp knife, side cutters, wooden hammer and an awl.

We begin the work with the preparation and installation of the frame. To do this, we use pre-prepared pine stakes, which we hammer into the ground to a depth of 25 cm, at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Since we start weaving from the bottom, we nail the bar from above to prevent curvature.

We make a fence (fence) with our own hands (video)

The base is ready and you can start braiding it with a vine. This is done as follows - the rods are laid out in a zigzag pattern between the stakes. Here you need to know that the rods are laid out alternately in one direction and the other in such a way that the stakes on both sides are braided with them. The remains of the vine along the edges are cut with a knife. Having reached the top, you can remove the bar and continue to weave without it.

When dried, the vine loses about a quarter of its thickness and therefore it is important to knock down the rods closer to each other with a wooden mallet in the course of work. Also, after finishing work, it is worth periodically knocking down the rods closer to each other throughout the week.

When the fence has dried, you can cut off the remaining stakes sticking out from above or leave it as it is, to your taste.

As an alternative to a wicker fence, you can do it. The stakes are driven in at a greater distance and planks are horizontally nailed to them at a distance of 25 cm from each other. The principle of weaving is similar, with the only difference being that the vine should not be woven horizontally, but vertically, and the butt of the rod is stuck into the ground.

Whichever option you choose, your site will be unique.

You can see an example of wattle making in our video