Wattle fence

[Mister B]

I tried the kind that goes around the pipe. It didn't work so well. The bamboo has a flat side, so it doesn't work so well. The racheting kind works ok. It does a lot of crushing, though. The prettiest cut is from a saw with lots of TPI. I used clippers to cut the tip ends. My hatchet works fine to cut the branches off.

I got a large part of the fence complete. I have about 20' to go. Tired. I found that it is best to lay one layer at a time instead of trying to go from pole to pole. Lay the bottom layer, then the next layer, the full length of the fence. It is not like the pictures of wattle fence I see. The pros are called that for a reason. However, I plan to put plants in and as part of the fence to take over as a living fence eventually. Pictures when I finish phase 2. probably tomorrow or later, depending on weather.

 

[Highcotton]

I tried the kind that goes around the pipe.  It didn't work so well.  The bamboo has a flat side, so it doesn't work so well. The racheting kind works ok. It does a lot of crushing, though.  The prettiest cut is from a saw with lots of TPI.  I used clippers to cut the tip ends.  My hatchet works fine to cut the branches off. 

I got a large part of the fence complete.  I have about 20' to go.  Tired.  I found that it is best to lay one layer at a time instead of trying to go from pole to pole. Lay the bottom layer, then the next layer, the full length of the fence.  It is not like the pictures of wattle fence I see.  The pros are called that for a reason.  However, I plan to put plants in and as part of the fence to take over as a living fence eventually.  Pictures when I finish phase 2. probably tomorrow or later, depending on weather.

That's a great idea you can plant edibles for you and or the chickens or decorative landscaping. I was heading to a family reunion today and I saw mm a huge clump of bamboo. I thought of your project and what I could do with that bamboo. I have a brother-in-law that lives in IUKA Mississippi. Are you near there?

 

[Mister B]

Yes, probably about 50 miles from there. I have been there once or twice.

 

[Mister B]

We have to cut back growth in our driveway a section of it has so much it looks almost like a tunnel. Besides the garbage truck driver is starting to complain.

This post gave me ideas to make a climbing arbor, twig screen for the gazebo, or a shield panel for the wood shed. Besides movable wind break, shade for the chicken run. Or even supports in the garden for plants. The stuff we have to cut back is red willow, alder, and some baby aspen I am going to try to transplant ( I like the way the leaves sound in the wind). I am sure we will have a very large pile of clippings.

For frame and the weaving we have scrap 2x2's, and other wood just piled waiting to be put to use in some project. I don't work anymore so this would keep me busy tinkering with materials to make something useful. Better than just burning the pile and making chicken dust bath materials.

Thanks for making this thread!

*** Sister just told me she is getting a wisteria, so guess we will be making something for it to cling to. Will be a good cover for the barb wire fencing we have around the house. I guess I shouldn't have been telling her about this wattle post, she gets as many ideas as I do to try somethings around the property, lol. ***

How did your project go? I don't know where you live, but people around here are happy for someone to go and cut down their bamboo. I plan on planting some in the back acre and keeping it around for my use. I can sell the shoots, I think. Or at least I can eat them.

 

[Mister B]

Fence is semi done. It encloses the area I want and it could hold a small animal without much sense.

Really, I think of it as phase 2 complete. I need to do some filling in and get my plants put into make it a living fence later on. I also need to get my gates made and fill in a few places in the fence.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Fence is semi done. It encloses the area I want and it could hold a small animal without much sense. Really, I think of it as phase 2 complete. I need to do some filling in and get my plants put into make it a living fence later on. I also need to get my gates made and fill in a few places in the fence.

This is a nifty and inspiring idea! I'm going to try a version of this.

 

[Mister B]

Just to tell you the truth, yall inspired me to continue. I wanted to get done with more each day so I could put it online. When yall would comment, it made me want to do more. Also, I have to thank my building buddy, my 16 year old daughter. She really helped me. She went through and trimmed all the pieces of bamboo so the fence looked smoother. She is a great daughter and I am proud to have her as mine.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Just to tell you the truth, yall inspired me to continue.  I wanted to get done with more each day so I could put it online.  When yall would comment, it made me want to do more.  Also, I have to thank my building buddy, my 16 year old daughter.  She really helped me.  She went through and trimmed all the pieces of bamboo so the fence looked smoother.  She is a great daughter and I am proud to have her as mine.

Hurray sixteen year old daughter! Gets her dad, helps her dad, doesn't use the words "old school" or "bonkers" in her dad's hearing. I'm a fan!

 

[Mister B]

No, they usually smile at me in that, "he's just old and strange sort of way" They includes her 19 year old sister. They are almost exactly 3 years apart, but they are like twins.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Well if you've got daughters who are friends and who love their dad, you've built something just as amazing as a living fence. Kudos.