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Basketry
ideaPlant climberThis
basketry idea looks very impressive, but it isn't terribly difficult to
make. Use it for training sweet peas, runner beans or other fragile
plants.
You
will need (1-1.5m high climber):
- 12
straight willow (or hazel) rods, between 1.5 and 2m long (uprights)
- Pair
of sharp secateurs (sharp scissor)
- A 50cm long string
- 70-80 green
willows, about 1m long each (weavers)
 On grass, cut the butt ends of the 12 uprights slanting with the scissor. It will make much easier for you
to
push them into the ground.
 Mark
50cm diameter circle on the ground, and push the 12 uprights into the
ground with the butt ends like a clock face. Tie the tip ends together
and bind them with a piece of string.
Tip: To mark out the 50cm circle, knock a stake into the ground and then
tie a 25cm piece of string to it. Tie a length of cane to the other end
of the string and move it round the stake, scoring out the circle on
the ground.
 Take
a weaver, bend it in half and turn it around one of the uprights about
30cm from the ground. Take the butt end of the weaver behind the next
upright and bring it back to the front as shown in the picture.
 Now
take the tip end in front of the second upright, behind the third
upright and bring it back to the front. The tension of the weavers will
hold them in the right place. It's like simple weaving.
 Now
join in another weaver and slide its butt end alongside the butt end of
the first weaver and work the two of them together in front of the
fourth upright, then behind the fifth upright and back to the front as before.
 Keep
joining in more weavers at every upright until you are weaving with
three or more to make a thick band. Weave three times around the
structure, parallel to the ground. Then spiral up to the top, going around the uprights about three times.
Finally, finish it
20cm from the top. Now, you're almost finish.
 So,
remove the string from the top of the climber.
Take one thin weaver to bind the top. Slide the butt end of the weaver
into the center of the upright and hold them together. Turn the tip end
3 or 4 times around the uprights as in the picture. Then slide the tip
end up through the bind and pull it tightly.
 Actually, you're now finished. If there are any splinters
of willow sticking out of any part of the structure, cut them off with
the scissor.
Enjoy your plant climber!
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