Willow bed borders are very popular because they fit in particularly attractively in natural gardens. With a little craftsmanship you can easily weave these yourself and in this way you will have a weather-resistant and long-lasting bed border.
How can you make a willow border yourself?
To make a willow bed border yourself, you need 2.50 meter long willow rods, stakes, pruning shears, tension cord and hammer. Weave the flexible rods around the stakes that have been driven vertically into the ground and, if necessary, compact the weave with a hammer and board.
The material:
- Willow rods are very flexible despite their robustness. They are easy to process.
- The raw material simply grows back. Many garden centers and farm shops offer it inexpensively.
- The optimal length is around 2.50 meters, the thickness is around 2 centimeters.
- They should be cut between the end of October and the beginning of March, as they will not have any leaves then.
Tool list:
A willow bed border doesn't require any more tools than hobby gardeners usually have in their basement anyway:
- Stakes (these can also be thicker willow branches)
- Pruning Shears
- tension cord
- Hammer
Procedure:
With the willow bed border you can border the beds directly. Proceed as follows:
- First set up a batter board.
- Drive three to five stakes vertically into the ground along the guide line. If necessary, put a board on top so that they don't split.
The following applies: the closer the rods are, the more stable the braid will be. But don't overdo it, otherwise braiding will be very difficult.
- When braiding, always start and end at a post. If necessary, shorten the canes with pruning shears. Make sure that thin and thick ends meet to create an even overall look.
- After a few rows, beat the weave together with a board and the hammer so that it compacts.
- If you use willow stakes that are still alive, sprout them in the spring and form a beautiful, natural border that can certainly keep up with the popular border made of boxwood and other plants. This allows you to create interesting structures that fit harmoniously between the plants.
Tip
If you don't want to make the bed border yourself, you can get ready-made willow elements commercially. These are simply stuck into the ground, so that the work required is reduced to a minimum.
