Creative garden features you can DIY for free using twigs, sticks, and branches. Ideas include trellises, plant supports, and garden artwork
You can spend a fortune kitting out your garden with edging, artwork, plant supports, and other garden features. Fortunately, there’s a lot of projects that you can DIY. Better yet, you can do-it-yourself with free materials like sticks and branches.
When you’re next pruning your trees, bushes, grapevines, or raspberry canes, set the pieces aside for some of these projects. 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.
Techniques
Each of the projects below has a link to their source and many 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
- You can make many newly cut sticks more bendy 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.
- For even more garden ideas, check out the Gardening DIY & Upcycling Pinterest Board
susan albright lifestyle design
Obelisk made with Sticks & Branches
Instructables
Natural Wood Raised Garden Bed
Amazon
Empress of Dirt
Martha Stewart
Rambling Round
Nathalie Pasquel
Forgotten Way Farms
dengarden
Country Living
Grit
Isas Trädgård
Garden Gate Magazine
Apartment Therapy
Instructables
blomsterverkstad
Empress of Dirt
Better Homes & Gardens
Karma per Diem
Houzz
Hearth & Vine
A Garden by Design
Canadian Woodworking & Home Improvement
Telegraph Gardening
This Old House
DIY Diamond Patterned Twig Lattice
Better Homes & Gardens
Indeed Decor
Alan J Lawson says
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!
Larry Blade says
Adding these ideas making garden we always wanted but extra special. A lovely feature. Thanks for sharing.
Jo says
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 👍🐸
lovelygreens says
You’re very welcome Jo! Love your enthusiasm and hope you have a great time on the plot this year 🙂
En Dali says
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 🙂
lovelygreens says
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.
Abby Jo says
Thank you for sharing my wattle fencing! Abby Jo @ Forgottenwayfarms.com Lovely site 🙂
lovelygreens says
You’re so welcome Abby 🙂 Thanks for coming up with the fantastic idea!
Angela Williams says
Really great Tanya. Thanks for sharing.
Ann says
Great Tanya! I really enjoy this type of post.
Tyler Braithwaite says
This is one of the magical things I have ever seen!
Karen Heath says
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”?
lovelygreens says
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.