[Dotty]

I have just come up with an idea for my front garden. I want to create a long narrow raised bed parallel to my driveway panel fencing and plant some climbers and also attractive lower growing flowers. I want to make the front of the bed out of twigs and small branches as i live backing onto woodland.
I have no idea how to start so am hoping you guys may have some ideas. As a challenge i want to see if i can make it attractive using as little money as possible.

First off what would be the best kinds of twigs to use?
Is there anywhere to get full instructions on how to do this?
I found an ehow link which wasnt that great to be honest.

[Spana]

OH makes what he calls a stick hedge when he cuts a hedgerow that has got too tall.  
He  leaves some bush and tree stumps  as high as he wants to make it and weaves the cut off branches in and out .  

They look really nice when hes finished and the following year when they shoot from the base he just goes along and cuts the top level with his woven bit.  Makes a good strong and attractive  fence/ hedge.

Think you are looking at doing the same sort of thing. If you haven't got the stumps to start with knock in some posts and weave your twigs and branches around them.

Is that the sort of thing you are thinking off

Edited to add, was looking at one he did last year just the other day and it was alive with small birds, especially wrens :happy:

[Yorkie]

A couple of things to beware of:

If you use twigs that are too thin, they will rot quickly and fall over.
If you use twigs of plants that will regrow (e.g. willow), they will take over!

[Dotty]

Hi Spana and Yorkie

Yes thats the kind of thing i want Spana, but mine will only be around 3ft high to hold enough soil for the plants.

I shall steer clear of willow Yorkie! We are going for a long walk in the woods tomorrow to see whats there. Thanks for the tip on not using too thinner ones.

[Spana]

mine will only be around 3ft high to hold enough soil for the plants.

Yeh, that about how high ours are.  Altho OH makes them out of heavier material than i think you will be useing i still think it will work if you have enough stuff to make it nice and tight.
Show us how it turns out