Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to create a veggie patch for kids

How to create a veggie patch for kids

How to make beautiful flower pots at home

How to make beautiful flower pots at home

How to make your own Aussie Christmas tree

How to make your own Aussie Christmas tree

Melissa King visits Steven Wells’ garden

Melissa King visits Steven Wells’ garden

{headline}

{headline}

How to make a chef's herb garden

How to make a chef's herb garden

Behind the scenes at a flower farm

Behind the scenes at a flower farm

Melissa and Charlie’s tips for gardening in winter

Melissa and Charlie’s tips for gardening in winter

{headline}

{headline}

5 types of mulch to keep your garden happy

5 types of mulch to keep your garden happy

How to grow gardenias

How to grow gardenias

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Charlie's guide to ornamental grass

Charlie's guide to ornamental grass

How to grow and care for ranunculus

How to grow and care for ranunculus

How to plan your spring garden

How to plan your spring garden

How to weave your own baskets

How to weave your own baskets

  1. Home
  2. Garden

How to use sticks to create 3 gorgeous garden projects

Melissa King shows you how. - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
  • 09 Oct 2020

Collect sticks and fallen branches from your garden and local parks or pick up driftwood from beaches and turn them into charming little additions to your garden.

WATCH: Melissa shows you how!

Now get your step-by-step guide

For you to note

  • Clean your sticks with a soft-bristle brush, scrubbing along rather than against the grain. Sand smooth with 100-150 grit paper. 

You can’t take anything out of national parks. Fallen branches become habitat for the creatures that live there. 

1. Make a stick and rope ladder

Stick and rope ladder
Simon Griffiths

Help your climbers and twiners up the wall with this cute, rustic-looking ladder.

Gather your supplies

  • Sticks of similar circumference
  • Jute rope
  • Two brackets and screws

You’ll also need

Tape measure; pruning saw; 60-80 grit sandpaper; scissors

Step 1

Measure height you want ladder to be.

Step 2

Decide on space between rungs and determine number of rungs you need, including one at the top for hanging.

Step 3

Cut sticks with pruning saw so they are roughly of equal length, about 30cm. They don’t need to be the exact same length.

Step 4

Sand ends to rounded points.

Step 5

Cut 2 lengths of rope to the height you want, adding about 15cm for each rung knot.

Step 6

Temporarily tie one end of each rope to garden bench, tree or something that is secure. (Image 44)

Step 6 how to make a rope ladder

Step 7

Tie each rung with marlin spike hitch (see below).

  • Make loop where you want rung to sit.
How to make a marlin spike hitch

How to make a marlin spike hitch - Step 1

  • Tuck the upper length of rope (the standing end) through the loop to make a noose.
How to make a marlin spike hitch
  • Slide rung through noose and pull tight.
How to make a marlin spike hitch
How to make a rope ladder

Step 8

Screw brackets into wall, release ladder from tether and hang top rung on brackets.

Step 9

Put potted climber such as jasmine at base of ladder to discourage children from climbing it, and train plant up the rungs.

2. Make a hanging basket for an orchid

Stick hanging basket for orchid

Orchids love rocks, crevices, a tree trunk’s corner. Make these exquisite plants feel at home in this hanger made of twigs.

Gather your supplies

  • Sticks of similar circumferences
  • Old piece of fence paling
  • PVC coated tie wire
  • Jute rope
  • Hessian
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Moth orchid

You’ll also need

Pruning saw; 60-80 grit sandpaper; timber saw; white-out paint; marker; drill; 2mm drill bit; wire cutters; scissors

Here’s how

Step 1

Cut sticks with pruning saw into 10 roughly equal-sized pieces about 20-25cm long. Sand ends into rounded point.

Step 2

In a trial run, place two sticks on flat surface. Put two sticks on top in opposite direction and repeat until you have five layers.

How to make a stick hanging basket

Step 2

Step 3

Make sure your orchid fits in the space.

Step 4

Cut paling piece with timber saw to length that matches joining points, plus a few centimetres. Mark on the piece where the drill points should be with white-out paint. Use this as a spacer to ensure drill holes match at end of all sticks.

Step 5

Put spacer on each stick and mark drill points.

Step 6

Drill holes through each stick.

Step 7

Cut 4 pieces of wire, each about 80cm long. Bend one end of each piece to 90 degree angle at about 20-30cm point. Put short end of wires on flat surface and rebuild basket by threading top two sticks through wires, and repeat for next four layers.

How to make a stick hanging basket

Step 7

Step 8

On top of fourth layer place spacer across the middle. This will serve as the base of the basket. 

How to make a stick hanging basket

Step 8

Step 9

Thread final, fifth layer of sticks through wire and wind wire around and across corners to secure basket.

Step 10

Turn basket over and twist 4 ends of wire into nooses wider than 2 pieces of rope. Trim away excess wire.

How to make a hanging stick basket

Step 10

Step 11

Cut 4 pieces of rope to double the length you want basket to hang, plus extra centimetres for knots.

Step 12

Thread rope through 4 loops and create single knots just above loops (see below).

How to make a stick hanging basket

Step 12

Step 13

Cut hessian to fit base of basket and insert.

Step 14

Soak sphagnum moss and wring out excess water. Create basket lining about 5cm thick.

Step 15

Remove orchid from pot and insert with its original mix into basket.

Step 16

Join the 8 pieces of rope with double knot (see below), trim ends with scissors and hang.

Single and double knots
• For the single knot, double twine over so ends meet. Pass folded end through wire nooses (step 10) and draw through so fold meets 2 ends. Cross folded end over double length of twine to create loop. Pass folded end through loop and tighten
• For double knot, pass twine through loop again and tighten.

Tip!

Most orchids are epiphytes and draw their water and nutrients from the air around them so don’t need soil to thrive. This hanging basket with its open arrangement means you don’t need to worry about soil falling though the gaps. Keep the sphagnum moss moist.

3. Make a teepee for climbing plants

Stick teepee for climbing plants

Make your basics stupendous by stylising your beans, peas or tomatoes around this bespoke tepee, or make a feature in your ornamental garden for climbing, flowering plants. It creates a natural elegance.

Gather your supplies

  • 7 x eucalyptus straight branches
  • Jute twine

You’ll also need

Pruning saw; secateurs; garden fork; hammer; scissors

Step 1

Cut branches into stakes about 2m long

Step 2

Cut shoots with secateurs.

Step 3

Turn soil over to aerate.

Step 4

Hammer in stakes so they all meet at the top. 

How to make a stick teepee

Step 4

Step 5

Tie stakes together at top with rope and secure with double knot (see above for instructions). Cut ends of rope with scissors.

How to make a stick teepee

Step 5

Step 6

Wrap stakes with rope at 30cm points, starting at the bottom, and tying with single knots (see above for instructions).

How to make a stick teepee

Step 6

Step 7

Plant your chosen climbers in soil underneath.

For more gardening projects, pick up a copy of the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine in selected newsagents and supermarkets or buy online today!

You might also like:

How to make a stacked herb tower

How to make beautiful flower pots at home

Melissa makes terrariums for kids

  • Garden
  • TV
  • Backyard Ideas
  • Front Garden Ideas
  • Landscape Design Ideas
Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
Rebecca is the Digital Managing Editor of Better Homes and Gardens.

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to create a veggie patch for kids

How to create a veggie patch for kids

How to make beautiful flower pots at home

How to make beautiful flower pots at home

How to make your own Aussie Christmas tree

How to make your own Aussie Christmas tree

Melissa King visits Steven Wells’ garden

Melissa King visits Steven Wells’ garden

{headline}

{headline}

How to make a chef's herb garden

How to make a chef's herb garden

Behind the scenes at a flower farm

Behind the scenes at a flower farm

Melissa and Charlie’s tips for gardening in winter

Melissa and Charlie’s tips for gardening in winter

{headline}

{headline}

5 types of mulch to keep your garden happy

5 types of mulch to keep your garden happy

How to grow gardenias

How to grow gardenias

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Joh and Graham visit Hartvale gardens

Charlie's guide to ornamental grass

Charlie's guide to ornamental grass

How to grow and care for ranunculus

How to grow and care for ranunculus

How to plan your spring garden

How to plan your spring garden

How to weave your own baskets

How to weave your own baskets

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!