35 Creative Garden Projects using Sticks & Twigs
Garden projects using sticks and twigs that you can DIY with just a few tools and garden waste. Make everything from garden artwork to trellises and garden arches using a material that you can find in the woods or in your garden.
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You can spend a fortune kitting out your garden with edging, trellises, artwork, plant supports, and other garden features. Fortunately, you can make a lot of garden projects using sticks and twigs. That’s right! When you next prune your trees, bushes, grapevines, or raspberry canes, set the pieces aside for some of these ideas. If you have willow growing on your land even better since it can be used to create all sorts of attractive and useful features for the garden.
If you’d love to have that cottage garden look while not spending a lot of money then this collection of more than thirty creative garden projects using sticks and twigs is sure to give you loads of ideas. The ones I have in mine are the first few and include the willow garden obelisks, the raspberry cane garden edging, and even a willow wattle hurdle for blocking the wind.
Techniques to Use Sticks and Twigs in the Garden
Each of the projects below has a link to their source and may include instructions on how to recreate them. If in doubt, consider making a project using your own method. Some common techniques for these garden projects include:
- Traditional Wattle weaving – here’s how including a video
- Three-rod Wale weaving as in this garden obelisk
- You can make many newly cut sticks bendier by soaking them in water
- Binding with garden string
- Gluing together with wood glue
- Nailing or screwing pieces together. Make sure to use nails that won’t rust unless you want that effect.
1. Stick & String Lattice trellis. All you need to do to make this plant support is bind twigs together with garden string. I share how in the video you see above.
2. Woven Garden Edging using pruned raspberry canes, though you could use willow or other bendy sticks
3. Make a DIY Garden Obelisk using hazel or willow sticks
4. Use hazel or birch sticks to create a bean archway, wigwam, or other growing support.
5. Create a Natural Wood Raised Garden Bed using cut branches and old sticks
6. This Willow Sweet Pea Arch was made by bending and weaving sticks together
7. Make Twig Plant Markers by peeling bark off small sticks and twigs
8. This stunning Forest Walk Arbor is made with small tree trunks and old sticks
9. Use a combination of sticks and twigs to make Nature’s Birdhouse
10. Weave sticks together to create this Star & Diamond Stick Lattice
11. Build a Simple Stick Fence by nailing sticks to posts
12. Weave a Willow Tomato Cage with a bundle of willow sticks
13. Create a DIY Wattle Fence with hazel sticks for the uprights and weave
14. Create a Living Willow Playhouse by weaving living willow sticks together and pushing the ends into the soil.
15. How stunning is this handmade Espalier Garden Bench
16. Make a Wooden Tomato Support by creating a woven mesh teepee made of sticks
17. Twist sticks into a circle to make a Peony Branch Support
18. Bend sticks around a plant to create this Globe Plant Support
19. Woven Wattle Garden Divider made with sticks woven into a wooden frame
20. Weave a Willow Bird Nest with thin willow rods and sticks
21. Willow is woven around sticks pushed into the soil to create this Woven Circular Raised Bed
22. This whimsical Willow Flower Support is made with willow but you could use other sticks and twigs such as freshly cut bamboo.
23. The creator of this Giant Garden Art Bird Nest used sticks she found on the curb
24. If you have enough sticks, you could create this Garden Pavilion
25. Use vines and old sticks to build this Rustic Branch Obelisk
26. The creator of this Simple Dividing Fence pushed sticks into the ground and wove smaller sticks and twigs between them.
27. The beauty of natural sticks and branches is displayed in Full Moon Stick Lattice
28. When it comes to plant supports, you can’t go wrong with an easy to make Rustic Plant Support
29. Though this looks like it’s made of sticks, it’s climbers growing up a white lattice
30. Bend sticks or willow rods to create this gothic-inspired Arched Flower Support
31. Nothing by naturally woven sticks went into making this Willow Pea Dome
32. Sticks and twigs can make great cat deterrents for your veggie patch
33. Weave sticks at an angle to recreate this DIY Diamond Patterned Twig Lattice
34. Create a fancy DIY Wooden Arbor using thick sticks and straight branches
35. Create a Runner Bean Arbor with thick branches and sticks woven together to form the roof. Here are more bean supports ideas
36. This garden project using sticks and twigs helps to create a wind block in the garden
Do you ever use bamboo? A neighbor has large patch of it. Is it applied to any of your examples?
I haven’t but you absolutely could. When bamboo is freshly cut, it’s much more bendy than after it’s dried out, making it easier to weave. If you do end up making anything, be sure to report back on your creations :)
Thank you for this article. I read “If Walls Could Talk” in Hingham-Life. I drive down High Street every day and admire the twig fence! When I read the article I wondered if your property bordered High Street on the side. Google answered the question. Your home is lovely and your fence has inspired me to do something positive with all the “branches” we trim…thank you!!! Kate Manning
You’re so welcome, Kate, and have fun transforming your branches into creative garden supports :)
How do these projects hold up to strong winds, please?
Like all trellises, it depends on how well the project was made, how securely it’s installed, and how strong the winds are.
Just happened upon this site through Pinterest. I love repurposing everything and using what I already have to make what I need. I live on 9 acres of woods, I’ll start small then work up to some larger projects. Thank you for such great ideas. Will also check you out on YouTube.
It’s a pleasure to have you here, Evelyn – welcome!
So many things to love here! I think I may try the peony idea to support my yarrow! it tends to get floppy :)
Wonderful ideas 👍👍👍😁😁😁
Wow. I repurpose everything I can find. Now will collect twigs & small fallen branches to build always-needed garden supports, designs and more! Thanks for these ideas!
Oh me, oh my! I just stumbled upon this amazing site via Pinterest. The creativity and earth loving beauty you have compiled here is astounding! I recently moved into a secret garden of a home with a little over three acres and have so many needs and projects I want to do but didn’t know where to start or even which project to do where. Hahaha but I discovered I am a Gardner in my soul. The first weed I pulled I knew it was for me! I am trying to restore a beautiful old wooden fence that is worn in just the right way aestheticly but not in functionality. I want to keep the pieces I can and figure something out or the rotten pieces. I know I need to post the corners bc the original fence builder did not. Have you any ideas or suggestion? Even just a general idea of a direction would be super appreciated! Sincerely a city girl turned gardener in her soul and lover of the land! Living life in full bloom!
Hi Penny, you could get some solid wood (or another material) posts for the corners and cement them in. That will give you a great support for your existing fence and any alterations you might make for it :) Welcome to the amazing world of gardening too!
I have been watching you on Youtube, but how did I miss that you have blog as well? Never mind. I know it now and this post is just what I need to make the task of cleaning up a cut down Maple into some things useful and lovely.
Thank you for research on inspiration for stick usage in the garden!
Lynda
You’re so welcome and thanks for coming over from the Lovely Greens YouTube Channel :)
I just found your site. This posting about twig & branch trellises and arbors etc is amazing.
The organic quality of the structures is so welcoming.
Thank you for posting.
I do not have access to many branches and twigs, but do have a few beautiful birch branches from a tree we had to remove from the garden. I can start with those.
I will be following your posts in the future.
Where do you get all the long sticks to weave together to make some of the larger projects?
If you have a larger property, you can coppice willow, hazel, and other types of shrubby trees. You can also use bamboo cut from clumps in the garden, providing that it’s thick enough.
The Full Moon Stick Lattice was designed by Whitten Hill Studio out of Kennebunkport.
Steve Doe
Whittenhillstudio@gmail.com
Thanks, Stephen! I’ve updated the link to the Whitten Hill Studio website :)
That is my favorite! I’m going to check yours out next!! Thank you! ❤️
I have been thinking about this a lot recently and wondering how to go about it. I was so excited when I came across this post, it’s got great ideas to try. Thank you!
gardening is truly a labor of love. these are beautiful. thanks for sharing
I have just discovered your helpful videos. they are absolutely fabulous.
I love the idea of no – dig – as I can dig for so long then my back gets sore – so it’s great to know – when that happens. I’ll keep watching – as I am too going to dedicate a psych to wildlife – butterflies & bees & build a big hotel the frogs are already in residence!
Adding these ideas making garden we always wanted but extra special. A lovely feature. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Tanya,
I have just discovered your helpful videos – they are absolutely fabulous – Thankyou!
After just taking over an alotment last year & approaching our first planning, growing season – all the items covered are so very helpful.
I love the idea of no – dig – as I can dig for so long then my back gets sore – so it’s great to know – when that happens – I can have a go at your ideas – especially growing squash/pumpkins through weed suppressant material- ( without having to rely on my reluctant gardening husband !)
I’ll keep watching – as I am too going to dedicate a psych to wildlife – butterflies & bees & build a big hotel – the frogs are already in residence!
Thankyou again ??
You’re very welcome Jo! Love your enthusiasm and hope you have a great time on the plot this year :)
I saw ur blog on Pinterest and really love it! Very inspirational! I wish I can have a house with a garden and live in harmony with nature. It’s hard for my country though as our land is scarce and super expensive, most of us live in tall buildings. I guess I will just stick to potted plants for now and dream while reading/ watching ur garden :)
I wish everyone could have a garden — but potted plants is a great way to have your plants without much space. Maybe one day you’ll find a way to have a little piece of land to garden too. I hope so.
Could make u a lil fairy garden. Love those haven’t had a chance to do one yet though.
Thank you for sharing my wattle fencing! Lovely site :)
You’re so welcome Abby :) Thanks for coming up with the fantastic idea!
This is one of the magical things I have ever seen!
Question. I have some (many) Willow branches that I saved from a Willow I used to have. I know that these branches sometimes root when they are stuck in the ground. If my branches are 5 or 6 years old do you think I might be safe from “accidental propagation”?
You are safe! They might not be as bendy as they were when fresh but are excellent for supports and projects that they don’t need to be bent for.