Winter project - fencing the fruit garden

Fencing the fruit garden

On one side of the field, when we arrived, there was a patch of rough grass that was clearly an old fruit and veg patch.

Amongst the smothering grass tufts there were a few dying current bushes and raseberry canes. I guess I could just rip out and replace with healthy new varieties, but I like the idea of picking fruit from the same bushes as long gone previous owners of this farm. So, with not much time at hand, the aim last spring was simply to save the plants. Over the summer the grass was trimmed and the odd bit of water was thrown at them. The crop was poor. 5 red currents and three raspberries. But here's hoping for better next year.

An old fence surrounding the area was rotten and collapsing. Going by local farm museums, hazel wattles seemed a traditional way to fence your garden. Our patch of forest has been variously described as weird or odd by locals, for not being dominated by big beech or pine trees. It looks to me a bit like coppiced hazel and beech. Or its stunted growth due to being on a south facing very dry bank? Anyway might as well use what you've got....

A few youtube videos on hazel weaving later, and I decided I would start with an arch.

Another view, with Allie enhancement

It was surprisingly easy, with vertical posts hammered into the ground every foot and thin rods weaved between.

It's staying in the ground to season over the winter.

Having found out how easy it was, and how strong the result, with no fixings required, I couldn't resist trying the same for fencing.

I tried slightly different settings. Vertical posts every 2 feet and horizontal rods done in twisted pairs and was very pleased with the result. It is very strong and rigid.

Here's work in progress.

I think more horizontal bars are needed. It certainly didn't stop Allie going thru.

The arch will go over a gateway for people, but we wanted provision for larger vehicles, like tractors, so a drop bar gate was added on one corner. 

I don't know what this leg failure disorder is, but it seems to be catching. Perhaps we should start a Just Giving fund for research into it?

The above post is in the north west corner and the plan is to replace it with a cherry tree, but the snow beat me to it and now the ground is frozen. 

Along the northern edge I've planted small hedge saplings from the forest. Slovenia has very few hedges so we are going to inject a little British countryside. Who knows, maybe in a few years time we'll be telling you all about our attempts at hedge laying..... but it needs to grow a bit first.

Thanks to the scouts, who cut many of the fence posts during their stay in the summer. If at any time you want to come again and cut some more, there's the fourth side still to do.....

Hopefully in the spring we can show you the finished product.