Living Fence Posts
(This picture was found on the very interesting website of Finca Leola, a site about reforestation in Costa Rica.)Living fences are a favorite subject of mine, so I was very happy to see them in Costa Rica. What are they? A stick is put in the ground and it takes root. It is the beginnings of a tree. Willow works very well for this in cooler climates. In fact the fedge (a hedge-like fence) is gaining popularity in gardens in the UK and North America.
In CR live wood sticks are put in the ground and then barbed wire is attached to them. No need to worry about digging big post holes or eventually replacing the posts. You just have to prune them back yearly if you want to keep them short, but as you can see in the picture, pruning is not necessary.
These living fences contribute to the enviroment in so many ways: shade for animals, shelter for the birds and help with air pollution. They are also cheap to establish and it is difficult for people to drive their car through a living fence!
Why aren't more of us using living fences?
posted by Muriel at 4:49 p.m.
4 Comments:
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Hi, thanks for mentioning us!
One correction - you do have to dig a hole for the fence post - but since the soil here has no rock to speak of - it really isn't hard.
One other very good thing about these living fences is that many of them are nitrogen fixing.
Fred
Fred, I was happy to mention your website as your goal to conserve the tropical hardwood through sustainable forestry practices, along with the intelligent way that you are doing this, is something that as many people as possible should know about.
Sorry about stating that you don't need to dig a hole for the living fence posts. I have planted a fedge with willow rods and didn't need to dig a hole. But the willow rods were only about half an inch thick....
Good news about the nitrogen fixing ability of many of the living fences.
You will have to keep them wet until they are rooted.
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