The trees and large branches that
come down can become the trellis for those roses you've always wanted or
other climbing beauties...for a cozy retreat in some area of your yard.
Trellises
and Arbors
Here,
we downed some cypress trees, cleaned and cut them to size.... for a
trellis over our walk through into a pasture (left - framing my
studdly hubby). The bark can be soaked and woven into mats or
baskets or shredded and put in the compost for later. With two
other trees, we started a grape arbor (right).
After
lopping limbs from the big oaks in my back yard I made a rustic free
standing trellis for a wild trumpet vine (left - 'before' picture)
that had taken over most of the back yard. I gathered
up the tentacles of the vine and wrapped it around the trellis. It
looked like it had been there for years! Plus a pair of chickadees set
up housekeeping immediately, as they watched my labors patiently until I
was done, then picked their spot and moved in. This blends right into
the scenery (right - 'after' picture).
Flower Bed Edging
From
small to larger in circumference, utilize what you have at your
disposal. I wasted nothing!! The limbs and branches I used for the woven
wall to my mint garden (left) as well as the stakes to brace the
weaving. Some of the trees were dead and hollow. These we
cut length-wise and I made planters out of them. We made the
stands out of horse shoes.
Raised Vegetable Garden Borders
Bordering
your vegetable and flower gardens (left) with larger limbs and downed
trees keeps you organized with a rustic feel. They will also help
hold the soil in place for raised beds - with no worries about leaching
poisonous chemicals into your garden. These will eventually rot so
keep an eye on them. They too, will be a good addition to your
compost pile when their time has come.
Trellises Against Walls
Fallen
limbs, cleared out bamboo what ever
nature hands you from above or below - find a use for! My neighbor's
bamboo was running rampant into my yard and taking over so I snipped
it. Needing a trellis for my mandevilla (right) and
bougainvillea (left) I went right to work. It was sturdy and
flexible in the southern storms - the vines hung on and the trellises
hung in.
Odds and Ends - and a Halloween Tree
The
smaller limbs can be cut into lengths to make log cabin feeders and bird
houses, or for holiday fill-ins such as a Halloween or Easter
tree.
So you see...there
are treasures all around...and free! And free is wondermous!!!!
Happy
Foraging!!!!