Wattles for Veggies
First, I must give my mentor and friend Marilee Kuhlman full credit for this one. I was meeting with her and brainstorming for a client and she mentioned how she tested out places on her property for future edible beds by using straw wattles. Wattles, what?! My ears perked up because I had just about thrown in the towel growing edibles in my parkway. I had serious compaction and heavy clay in my parkway but I didn’t want to build a rectilinear structure in my parkway in order to hold good soil. The wattle was the answer because I was able to tuck in two kidney shaped raised beds surrounding my roses and it actually looks pretty darn good. The wattles have become a neighborhood “icebreaker” as people walk by. Best of all straw wattles are inexpensive, about $24 for 25 feet of wattle. I stacked one atop the other and drove down rebar in a few places to secure it. The wattle will slowly drop in height as it decomposes. When it needs replacing simply cut the netting and compost the straw. Voila!
Emma
November 19, 2014 at 2:04 pmI had no idea that I can use wattles to grow my own vegetables. I have a little space at my back yard and I will definitely try this method. Thanks for sharing!