Gardening with natural materials is wonderful as they are easy to use and so pleasurable to work with. Structures made from them blend with their surroundings regardless of whether the garden is contemporary or old-fashioned. Contrasted with glass and metal in a modern garden, the beauty and individuality of the materials is enhanced, while natural materials such as hazel, willow, and shaggy turf complement a cottage garden perfectly.
*Makes a 1.5m wide tree seat |
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The use of low willow walls, filled with soil and topped with turf isn't restricted to tree seats. They can be used to make a more economical alternative as walls for raised planting beds. The materials are so adaptable and easy to work with the opportunities are endless. You could use them to disguise ugly concrete walls to make a mini maze or as a seat around a raised pond. As long as the soil inside them is kept moist, the willow edges will stay supple and strong and whatever structure you make will last for years.
You will need....*
- 2 bundles of willow
- 10 2.5m hazel rods,
- 5m of turf,
- 4 barrows of topsoil,
- 5m of micro-irrigation hosepipe,
- Hosepipe end connector,
- Lump hammer,
- Secateurs,
- Loppers
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Step one:
Mark two circles in the soil around the base of a tree, the inner one 60cm from the trunk and the outer circle 1m. Then cut the hazel rods into 40cm lengths and hammer them into the ground following the cicrles, leaving gaps of 20cm between them. |
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Step two:
Once all of the pegs are in, take handfuls of willow (about 9 rods), and weave them in and out of the pegs taking care to pack the rods down tightly. Make up the inner circle first to practise, as mistakes here won't show when the seat is finished. |
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Step three:
Make up the outer circle, packing the willow to reduce the number of gaps and for strength. |
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Step four:
Then make up the outer as you did for the inner one, making certain that the rods are packed tightly together for strength. |
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Step five:
Fill the space between the circles with the topsoil, firming it as you go. |
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Step six:
To make water the grass on the seat easier, lay a micro-irrigation pipe into the top few centimeters of soil. Block one end up and attach a universal hosepipe clip to the other. |
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Tree Care
Never stack soil up against the trunk of a tree as it will block microscopic air holes in the bark essential for healthy growth and can even kill large trees. So, when building a tree seat, ensure that the inner wall is at least 45cm out from the trunk. This is not only good for the tree, but makes it easier to hammer the pegs into the soil. |
Step seven:
Poke the end with the hose clip out through the inner wall of the seat on a side which won't be seen. When the grass needs a drink simply plug a hosepipe to the seat and turn on. |
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Step eight:
Because the soil will settle, over fill the seat by about 10cm. Lay the turf on top, tucking the edges down inside the seat. Keep well watered until the turf has established and clip from time to time with garden shears. |
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