Living Fences

Living fences are usually easier and cheaper to build and maintain then a typical privacy type fence. They can also be used to supplement an existing fence for extra protection, privacy, or food. We had a wonderful weekend planting new trees around the parameter of our little plot of land. Above our large garden area, on the north side and near the road we planted a fast growing hemlock hedge. The little trees are only a foot tall right now, but they are supposed to grow 1-3 feet per year and make a dense hedge. Already we noticed, while putting in the trees, that someone had cut our fence with wire cutters. We aren't sure if it was to pet the goats when they were there, or if it was in preparation of the ripening plum tree right on the other side of the fence. Oh the joys of living in city limits. Don't get me wrong, I want a place where people can come visit and learn about urban gardening, etc, but I also don't' want people stealing our food, damaging our property, and invading our privacy when we want it. In the small front/lawn area near the front of our house we put up a hedge of evergreen hedges intermixed with Rose of Sharron tall shrubs. I sure hope I end up liking the Rose of Sharron, if not I'll plant in more evergreen hedge trees. In the backyard near the river we used fast growing poplar trees and willows to create a living gazebo. It will also be a few years in the making, but we (especially the kids) are excited to watch it transform. It will take some pruning and training, but the end result should be a igloo like living tent. We even have an arched willow entrance. Over the next few years we'll have to train the trees to do what we want and bind them together on the cross points. We even put the poplar trees an even space apart in order to hang a hammock on them. The total diameter is about 8 feet across. The next step is a Marion berry living fence in the backyard, on the east side of our little apple orchard. It will go along a fence we share with the neighbors. Oh yes, we also added a few flowering vines along another fence on the east side of the raised bed garden, where we have a neighbor's garage within reaching distance, and also some flowering vines up the kids' tree house. Along with useful planting we also took the time to put in some astheticlly pleasing flowers. Along the enge of the river we put in a 50 foot bulb and flower bed. We planted about 100 new bulbs in the pst week, some for spring blooming (which of course won't bloom this year) and more for summer blooms. When things get growing better I'll have to include a picture or two.

22 weeks along and going well