Beautiful and practical garden accessories can be easily made from natural materials. These sources are universal in use and do not cost a penny, moreover — many of them grow right at home on the site.
In the photo above: an oval flower garden framed by a low fence turns into a flower island. In spring, the flowers of daffodils and chessboard grouse, which grow under a fruit tree in the middle of the lawn, reach out to the sun.
Continuously growing material that is always at hand — is this not the dream of any creative gardener? Actually, therefore, the design of the site with crafts from the vine is always in fashion.
Whether it is a fence, a support for a plant, a beautiful accessory, a space divider or a border for a flower garden-there are plenty of opportunities for using this pliable gift of nature.
In the photo below: natural materials used in the garden in several variations at once — pergola, flower bed frame and screen-turn your green possessions into a realm of harmony.
How long a hand-made wicker creation will last depends on the material and its strength: the denser and thicker the vine, the longer it resists the vagaries of the weather and fulfills its purpose.
What material to choose
Willow shoots are considered the best for weaving, as they are very flexible. Except that Salix matsudana and Salix caprea are not suitable for this purpose.
In the photo on the left: thanks to the pattern, the fence made of fresh willow shoots looks bright and impressive. Since the willow easily and quickly takes root, soon the “fence” will come to life and turn green. Right: the support in the form of a cone is stable and strong. Install such a structure in the spring, as soon as the shoots of climbing annuals begin to strive upward.
Ideal species for garden decoration are, for example, Salix alba, Salix purpurea and Salix daphnoides. The only disadvantage of the material is that over time, the color of the bark fades in the sun.
But Clematis vitalba retains its decorative appearance for quite a long time, as, indeed, Lonicera. And to make the product interesting not only in structure, but also in color, use a mix of stems of different plants that is not the same in thickness
In the photo below: on the left – a small garden gate is made of a wooden frame, to which the willow stems are vertically attached. A great solution for entering a rustic property! On the right – to create a wreath, the stems of Humulus lupulus were used, which were simply tied with a rope. A similar craft can also be made from flexible clematis.
An alternative to willow is soft and pliable cherries and plums. The branches of privet and derain bend just as easily. They can simply be cut from the bush and used fresh. Corylus avellana, Viburnum opulus, linden, and Ribes sanguineum are also suitable for our purposes. Even yew and ornamental grasses, such as Miscanthus sinensis, can be used, for example, for decorative wreaths.
By the way, the end of winter — the beginning of spring is considered the ideal time for cutting flexible material.
Of course, handmade crafts will not last forever, but thanks to their natural origin, they will allow you to harmoniously decorate the garden and give it an individual appearance. And they will also become your amulet, because in such a lively decor you can “weave” good luck and activate the energy of protection.
Close-up: everything at hand
Willow is a tall and spreading tree. For the garden, there is a compact version with a bushy crown. In such a plant, even at a young age, the central conductor is cut off at a height of 1-3 m, after which many shoots grow from here every year. Every spring, they need to be greatly shortened, forming a crown. As a result of pruning, there is a lot of material for weaving.
In the photo on the left: willow. On the right: a screen of bundles of thin twigs, threaded through four crossbars, originally separates one area of the garden from another. At the top of the bundles, it is desirable to tie them so that they do not “get disheveled”.
Tip: even if the vine is dry, you can restore its flexibility by soaking it in water for a couple of days.
Basket of clematis lashes
The long, flexible stems of clematis can be used for decorative purposes, and the plant still needs to be pruned in the fall. As an alternative, lashes of grapes are also suitable.
1. First, bend the strongest stems into rings of different diameters and form a basket frame from them, tying them with wire or rope. Then, in the gaps, weave bunches of grass.
2. Remove a few seasonally appropriate plants from the pots (in our case, Anemone blanda) and wrap their clods with moss. Place the plants in the basket.
3. Finally, fill in the gaps between them with moss-done! This craft looks good on the terrace or balcony.
Decoration of grass stems
Spartina pectinata ‘Aureomarginata’ is an excellent material for a wreath. Miscanthus and other tall ornamental grasses are also suitable for this purpose. The aboveground part of them, as a rule, is cut off in early spring. However, if you plan to create art objects from grass, it is better to prune in the fall, while the stems remain decorative.
1. Cut a bunch of grass with a pruner.
2. Twist the grass in a spiral – then the wreath will look more neat and it will be easier to form.
3. Hang the craft in a prominent place.
Color solution
Remember: the flexible stems of any woody plant from the garden are suitable for weaving. The same hazel or willow stably supply the master with the finished material. But for more decorative crafts, it is worth taking into account the capabilities of representatives of the flora with beautiful bright bark, for example, yellow-bark Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ (pictured on the left) or red-bark Cornus alba (pictured on the right).
The brightest color of the bark is in the young branches, so the shrubs should be regularly thinned to stimulate the appearance of new growth. It is advisable to do this in early spring.
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