As the growing season gathers pace, any sweet pea seedlings you have grown or bought will need to be transferred to their final position in your garden.
They will need support as they grow. This simple, rustic obelisk-shaped structure looks really effective in a mixed bed, and it’s thrifty, too. Edible peas, runner beans, morning glory or clematis can also be trained up your obelisk, and you can make several of different sizes to use among your planting.
You will need
- At least five hazel, willow or other sturdy branches, around 2-3 cm in diameter and 1-2 m long (you can forage for these in hedgerows) Secateurs
- Garden twine
- Scissors
1 . Gather branches
Remove five branches from your garden or a hedgerow using the secateurs – ensure they are all similar in length, without side branches. Cut one end of each branch into a point.
2. Create the frame
Choose a sunny spot in your garden and push your branches into the soil, equidistant from each other, to form a circle. Pinch the tips together to form a wigwam-like shape.
3. Tie the top
Cut a piece of twine about 20cm long and tie the tops of the branches firmly together. Tie the end of your ball of twine to one of the twigs, just beneath the top of your wigwam.
4. Wrap the twine
Release a little twine from the ball and pass it behind and then around the next twig. Repeat, moving round and gradually down
your wigwam to the base of the structure.
5. Plant and wait
Tie the twine securely at the base. Plant the sweet peas (or other) alongside one of the branches and watchas they grow through
the summer months to cover your wigwam.
Discover more creative ideas here.
Main image ©Emma Mitchell
