Advantages and disadvantages of wicker fences, their varieties, the choice of blanks, methods of extending the operation of the fence, construction technology. A wicker fence is a fence made of intertwined branches, which is used to mark the territory of the site or its individual parts. It has a beautiful appearance, looks good against the background of a rural landscape. We will talk about the types of wicker fence and how to build it in our article.
Features of a wicker fence
The fence consists of pillars dug into the ground, around which branches or vines are laid. To increase rigidity or to create unusual patterns, horizontal or vertical poles are attached between the posts.
A fence of this type meets the requirements of aesthetics and satisfies the artistic taste of the owner. It gives the site a special rustic charm. In terms of strength, the braid is inferior to a stone fence, but it decorates the site. In order for the hedge to protect the territory, it is made very high.
The size of the wattle fence depends on its functionality. Buildings up to 1 m are built for decoration. They are often made round and woven around flower beds and small areas. Low wattle fences are installed along the paths.
Fences within 1 m are used to mark the territory, but they do not create an enclosed space. They can be manufactured in sections up to 2 m long. High structures are designed to protect the site from illegal penetration from the outside. Placed on the outer borders of the territory.
For construction, you will need thin long rods that create a plane for the fence, and thicker stakes on which they are held. You can use a vine of almost all plants that meet these requirements. Willow and bamboo are often grown as hedges. In addition to branches, other materials are also used - thin boards, flexible picket fences.
There are two ways to install a wicker fence:
- Sectional - in this case, a border is formed to the left and right of the branches, stretching from bottom to top, which falls on the gap between the supports.
- Continuously - after weaving one bar, the next one is immediately laid, the result is an endless strip. In this case, the joints must be distributed evenly along the entire length so that they are not conspicuous. After connecting the branches, secure them together with wire. Turn unaesthetic places towards the site. Attach each row securely to the base with wire or nails.
Before making a wicker fence, decide on how to make it. There are several options for stacking branches. The most common options are with horizontal and vertical weaving and their modifications.
Vertical braiding provides for the presence of horizontal poles between the supports. They are attached with a step of 20-30 cm. The rods are stretched between them from bottom to top. The length of the branches should be 15-20 cm less than the height of the fence.
Horizontal braiding is considered classic. The blanks are intertwined with an eight or an "infinity" sign - each new one is a continuation of the previous one. The length of the rods should be at least 2 m. The supports are dug in with a step of 30 cm, otherwise the branches are difficult to bend. If there are a lot of thin pieces, collect them in small bunches and stack them all together. A type of horizontal weaving is inclined, which is performed diagonally. In this way, the design of the fence can be improved.
The simplest patterns that can be obtained by weaving:
- Checkerboard - the vine is gathered in bunches and woven horizontally. The result is a beautiful pattern with the same name.
- Diagonal checkerboard - for a similar weaving, horizontals are fixed to the supports, in the upper and lower parts. Fix branches more than 5 cm thick to the upper pole with one nail in 10-15 cm increments. Turn the rods diagonally across the fence and fix them to the lower horizontal. Between them, in the direction of the opposite diagonal, weave other blanks.
- Openwork weaving can be made from branches up to 1 cm in diameter. For a beautiful pattern, it is best to use willow twigs. They can be found in nurseries.
The durability of a wicker fence made of branches depends on the degree of protection of the rods. An uncoated structure will stand for 2-3 years, with a coating - up to 10 years.
Advantages and disadvantages of a wicker fence
Owners of mansions and summer cottages appreciate the braid for the following qualities:
- Ease of construction - you can make a wicker fence with your own hands without the involvement of professionals.
- The fence does not require the construction of a foundation.
- Environmental friendliness - only natural materials are used when creating a fence.
- Thanks to the wood, the fence has an attractive appearance.
- Using a variety of weaving methods, you can create a unique hedge design.
- Low costs for materials and installation.
The disadvantages of the design include the following factors:
- The fence is not considered a reliable structure.
- The service life of the fence is not very long, even if the branches are covered with protective equipment.
- The fence is difficult to repair. If individual rows are damaged, the entire structure will have to be disassembled for restoration.
Wicker fence installation technology
Such a fence is easy to manufacture and requires minimal physical effort. Let's consider in detail the technology of creating a tyna. The work is carried out in several stages.
Preparation of blanks for the fence
The service life of the fence depends on the material used. For example, a reed hedge will last 2-3 years, from a vine - up to 10 years.
In order not to waste time repairing the fence, you need to know the rules for harvesting and preserving material:
- Cut the vine during the period "September - March", when the movement of sap in the plant stops. At this time, she looks ugly because of the many young shoots, from which you immediately get rid of. It should be remembered that in cold weather the vine becomes fragile.
- The most optimal option is considered to be the one that uses the branches left after the sanitary cleaning of fruit trees - apple, cherry, plum. The walnut also has a long flexible vine.
- Almost all types of willow can be weaved into a fence, with the exception of the willow willow and the "white" willow. Branches from the first tree are short-lived due to fragility and fragility. In the second case, after drying, the rods become rough and ugly, which is reflected in the appearance of the hedge.
- To make the fence attractive, trim the vines with a slight slope.
- Depending on the diameter of the workpieces, you can build different types of fencing. From rods up to 2 cm, dense weaving is obtained, in which the structure will be without gaps, deaf.
- For work, you will need trimming of various thicknesses. Larger ones are woven at the bottom of the fence, thin ones - at the top.
- You can prepare the vine for long-term storage immediately after cutting. To do this, cut off the branches with an oblique cut and place them in the water with the thick ends. After a week, remove the bark and dry it. Remove the bark with a special tool - shemilka. Then cover the vine with wood stain and varnish.
The fence supports are made of strong stakes with a diameter of more than 5 cm. For this purpose, you can also use metal or plastic pipes, corners or fittings with a long service life. The rigidity of the fence is increased using horizontal poles with a diameter of more than 5 cm, which are attached to the posts.
To obtain an original appearance, peel the bark and paint the vine in different colors. Leave the branch in water for a few days to quickly remove the bark.
Then you can apply one of the coloring methods:
- The most common decoration option is staining the cleaned workpieces.
- A white color is obtained after applying hydrogen peroxide to the purified vine. A thin brush is required for the procedure. Then leave the rods in the light for a couple of days.
- To make the vine brown, it is boiled.
- After adding potassium permanganate to boiling water, the color changes to a saturated bright.
- To dye a different color, use the same dyes as for fabrics.
Wicker braid
Consider the process of building a traditional wattle fence with horizontal laying of willow rods. In a similar way, fences are erected from any other branches.
Drive stakes from 3 cm thick to a depth of 50 cm into the ground with the same pitch of 50-60 cm. Check their verticality. The gaps can be increased by using thick posts. It is impossible to bury the supports, they may not withstand strong gusts of wind. The driving depth of the stakes depends on the height of the product. If the fence is low, within 1 m, there may be 30 cm of branches underground. When the height of the aboveground part is up to 40-50 cm, hammer the supports by 15-20 cm.
Drive the outer three pillars in 20-25 cm increments. Small gaps will help to securely anchor the vine at the beginning of weaving.
If the braid is planned to be made very high, choose thick stakes.
The service life of wooden poles is short, even if they are covered with a protective layer. To make them stand longer, dig a trench of a given depth at the location of the fence and fill it with sand. Loose material will serve as drainage, water will quickly leave the stakes. Instead of wooden stakes, metal pipes coated with an anti-corrosion compound can be used.
Nail strips to the tops of the racks, along which you can control the level of weaving. At the end of the process, they are removed.
The weaving process is carried out from the bottom up. Position the branch so that the thick edge is near the post. Slide the rod between the supports until it is completed. It must end on the inside. Weave the next element from the place where the previous one ends. You can weave several branches at once. After a few rows, hit the hedge with hammer blows. To prevent the wattle from falling to the ground and starting to rot, screw the screws into the supports under it. They are also screwed over the top row so that the fence does not change shape due to temperature changes.
The vines must be of different lengths so that the joints are not visible. It is recommended to decide in advance on the step of the fence supports, use it to choose the length of the branches and use this template to select the blanks.
It is best to weave the tyn within a few days of cutting the vine. During this time, the trims are still elastic. If the workpieces have been stored for a long time, they can be soaked in hot water or steamed.
The finished structure can be decorated in various ways. For this, clay crafts are suitable - jugs, pots, etc. You can put a wooden cart or various parts from it nearby.
Live plants look beautiful with a hedge. Flowers are often planted near a fence or hung in pots. Bells, clematis, roses look especially good near the tyna. They will very quickly cover the entire fence with stems.
You can decorate the fence with the help of large stones, placing them along the structure.
If metal pipes are used as supports, they must be painted in the color of the vine, and plugs must be put on top.
Willow hedge
In the spring, you can build a very beautiful living fence from willow vines. The sequence of work is as follows:
- Dig holes 30 cm deep in 20-30 cm increments.
- Plant 2 willow branches in each, alternating the direction of the slope, and water well.
- After 1-1.5 m, dig holes 50 cm deep, fix rods in them with a thickness of at least 5 cm. They will serve as supports for the fence.
- Connect the posts with a thin tie, if they are higher than 1.5 cm, or with two strips, if their height is more than 1.5 m.
- As the branches grow in length, intertwine them to create a living wicker fence.
To maintain the desired shape of your wicker fence, trim it twice a year. Over time, the vine thickens and the strength of the tyna increases. To speed up the process, periodically prune the tops of the plants.
Wicker fence made of boards
This design is quite rare, but it looks very nice. Usually, lumber braid is used as decoration for concrete and brick structures.
For the fence, you will need thin boards with great flexibility. Sizes of workpieces; thickness - no more than 20 mm, width - 100 mm. The length should be such that the edges extend slightly beyond the posts or horizontally.
You can use old lumber or new sanded. You will also need metal or concrete pillars that will be used as supports. The boards can be bound horizontally or vertically.
Consider the option of making a fence with vertically positioned workpieces:
- Mark the location of the fence supports. The uprights should be spaced about 3 m apart.
- Dig holes 1 m deep.
- Install pillars in the pits along the edges of the site, set them in a vertical plane using a plumb line and concrete.
- Pull the cord over the tops, align it horizontally and tie it to the posts. On it it will be possible to set boards in a horizontal plane.
- Fasten four beams horizontally between the supports, evenly spaced in height.
- Between the bars, starting from one post, insert the boards vertically. Neighboring elements should bypass the bars on the opposite side. The top and bottom rails will cover the edges of the vertical planks outside the fence.
- From above, the hedge can be covered with an impromptu roof.
- The last stage is painting the braid.
How to make a wicker fence - watch the video:
[media = https://www.youtube.com/watch? v = gwI2I0aNQGo] A fence made of wicker branches does not require large capital investments and will serve for many years. In order not to repair the fence every year, it is necessary to follow the technology of installing the fence, in particular the sections on the use of protective equipment.
