DIY Project ~ A Simple Branch Arbor

• By Barb
• Posted in DIY home and garden craft projects, Recycled and repurposed items as garden art
• On October 9, 2013
• 6 Comments.

When you are pruning tree branches or taking down a tree, don’t haul all those branches to be cut up for the fire pit or fireplace – reuse them in your garden! Last summer, several large branches needed to be trimmed and I used them to make a simple arbor over our back gate. Now, I know this arbor won’t last forever, but it will last long enough or me to decide just what I want there permanently. One note is to use green limbs as they will bend more easily. Pre-drill guide holes and attach to your fence with wood screws. Fast, easy and inexpensive – my idea of the perfect garden project!

In the pictures below you will see the arbor in its first summer sporting morning glory vines. This summer, I planted moonflower vine and purple hyacinth vines  (in large flower pots at the base of the arbor) and trained them up through the branches. They have bloomed all summer and now are producing seed pods that I will dry and save for planting next year.

My daughter was inspired and used her large trimmings to construct arbors and shorter pieces as fencing to keep her dog out of the flowerbeds. (See the link at the end of this article.) So, as you are doing your annual clean-up in the yard, whether it is fall or spring, look at those branches to add character and utility to your garden.