Rustic Edging for Flower Gardens

Before technology improved to the point that fences could easily be made of wire, woven-stick fencing was an inexpensive, common means of fencing gardens. This type of fencing can still be used to create rustic edging.

History

Archaeological evidence indicates that enclosures were made with woven sticks long before recorded history. Also, historians at Colonial Williamsburg have recreated wattle edging and fences used by colonists during the earliest periods of American history.

Function

The fences remained popular throughout the centuries because they were low cost and quick to erect compared to stone or timber. Wattle fences protected herbs and vegetables in a garden from farmyard animals such as pigs. In England, these types of rustic fencing are still widely used.

Process

Wattle edging is created similar to the process of weaving a basket. Sturdy, thick sticks are stuck into the ground to create uprights. Smaller, more pliant sticks are then woven in between the uprights. The effect resembles a large basket.

References

• The Washington Post: The Lost Art of Wattle Fencing; Adrian Higgins; March 1, 2007
• Alaska Botanical Garden: How to Build a Wattle Fence; Barbara Miller
• "London The Novel"; Edward Rutherfurd; 1997

Resources

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Arbor, Trellis, or Pergola ...; Gail Hansen; August 2010