Wattle fence

[Mister B]

Started the fence today. Got the stakes in and a couple of the main posts. My helper photobombed the picture. That's my chicken
tractor in the background. Waiting for my chicks to grow a little before I put them in.

 

[cracked egg]

I used willows when I tried building one. They are real pliable and around the same size. They will grow roots if used in wet areas though.
I just didn't have enough willows that were accessible to me.
keep us posted on the construction it just might motivate me again.

 

[Mister B]

OK, so I put in 4x4s as posts every 10'. They are 22" tall. I plan to put sticks every 12" between the posts to wrap the wattle around. Then, I will add some wickets about 18" tall to make the total height 3'. Also, I am going to plant some forsythia at each post to add to the fence over time. Pictures when I get all the posts in.

 

[Mister B]

Started the posts between that the wattle will weave around. Pounding all those stakes in the ground is hard work!!!

 

[Mister B]

So, I stopped work for a few days. I thought I could use a stand of wild hedge as my wattle. However, I did not expect that it would take so much wattle for the fence. So, I have been looking for some bamboo. A friend of mine has a friend that has an invasive stand of the stuff. I am going Saturday to cut it down and haul it off for him. I also am going to collect some of the rootstock and plant in my chicken pasture, its about 1 acre. My hope is that it will grow and I can harvest the bamboo for more canes and for food. In any event, more pictures this weekend as I harvest the bamboo and build the fence.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Looking good so far!!

I too have invasive bamboo that I have been battling for years. The stuff won't go away.

 

[Mister B]

I read, and this was just on the internet, take it for what its worth, if you cut it down, then cut the shoots when they come up and continue to cut the shoots as soon as they come up, you can get it killed off. I did that with blackberries, I assume it may work with the bamboo.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I read, and this was just on the internet, take it for what its worth, if you cut it down, then cut the shoots when they come up and continue to cut the shoots as soon as they come up, you can get it killed off. I did that with blackberries, I assume it may work with the bamboo.

That is what I am trying but then I forget about going out there and before you know it there are shoots everywhere! I even put black plastic over it for a whole season once.

There are two types of bamboo: clumping and running. I have the running type.

 

[Mister B]

I plan to plant this type in a one acre pasture for my chickens. I want to keep it in the center of the pasture. If I bush hog it once or twice a year, can I keep it in that area?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I saw a living willow fence at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. It was shaped like a repeating letter M and all the twigs in the interstices were growing straight up as well as the uprights. I've always wanted to try it, so I'm watching how yours develops.