The pickets are the part of the fence that drive into the ground and form a frame for the branches to be weaved upon. The hazel horizontals are large, appearing more like 'branches' of a tree, generally from 1 to 2cm thick giving a more sturdy and robust feel to your fencing. Before you even start preparing to build your fence, it will be crucial for you to make a number of design decisions.

The nature of the installation means that the fence can be fitted to your garden – it can curve up, or down, and doesn’t need to be in a straight line. I plan to make a little pool for small boats, and perhaps a fairy house and some shade loving plants.After moving into my new home in North Palm Beach, the last item on my list of projects was the fence. I also undertake many aspects of hedgerow management including hedge laying, and supply coppiced material for several uses including riverbank restoration. You could try pounding in wickets tighter together and packing them full of straw – sort of like a wall. Hurdles can be an excellent choice for a garden fence due to their ability to function as effective windbreaks.

Repeat this proves, weaving new saplings along the entire length of the fence until you have a complete wicker barrier 6 to 8 weavers high. In addition to designing gardens, Elizabeth also works in a consultancy capacity, offering ongoing support and training for gardeners and growers around the globe. If you want a traditionally clean, smooth finish to your wattle fence, clip off all side shoots and branches from your selected pieces. A community garden I volunteered at had a living arch of willow that they’d designed entirely on accident. I like the way it gives shape and structure, whilst containing and separating them from my lawn area.One of my idle dreams is to set up a coppice wood forest on my property so I always have trellis and wattle wood available. For a contemporary appearance, you can choose framed hurdles, which feature handwoven materials inside and a robust outer edge, giving a polished and modern look.