Grab some sweet pea seeds and willow rods, and you can make this gorgeous, scented archway (or secret tunnel) for your garden.
This project is shared from the new book, Gardening on a Shoestring: 100 Fun Upcycled Garden Projects by Alex Mitchell. Also see the DIY Succulent Wall Planter for more creative ideas.
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Gardening on a Shoestring
When I first shared Gardening on a Shoestring with the DIY Succulent Wall Planter tutorial, I mentioned that the book had me at hello. With just a few page flips, I couldn’t wait to dig in.
The book features 100 fun, upcycled garden projects and there’s all sorts of great ideas including frugal and fabulous garden containers, propagating plants (free new plants from the ones you already have), smart choices for garden supplies (without wasting money), and keeping your garden healthy (for next to nothing). The photographs are lovely and everything comes with creative twists that make us love gardening just a little bit more.
This project, the sweet pea garden arch, is a fun idea for a spot in the garden where you might like a secret pathway leading to something special. If you have children, it’s just an all-round fun play place, and you could aim it toward their own little garden sitting area, picnic spot, or veg garden. As it fills in, it will become the most beautiful, naturally-scented tunnel with all those reds, pinks, and purples. In the book, Alex suggests it as a pathway to the trampoline which sounds like a fine idea.
Grow
How to Make a Sweet Pea Tunnel (Garden Arch)
This project uses willow rods. If they are not available in your area, ask for alternate suggestions at a local garden nursery or garden club. What you choose may depend on whether you want the arch to last for just one season or many years to come.
Materials
- Brown, soaked willow rods (not living or green since this may root).
For every three feet of tunnel you will need around 40 rods each about 9 feet long.
If the tunnel is for children, they could be a little shorter. - Garden twine
- Scissors
- Sweet pea seeds
Sweet pea vine seeds are available as annuals and perennials. The perennial type, known as Everlasting Sweet Pea, can be invasive in some areas. Always check locally to be sure any seeds you choose are safe for your area and won’t cause problems later.
When to Sow Sweet Pea Seeds
Any time for the structure; sow sweet pea seeds in the spring.
How to Do It
- Push the thick ends of the rods into the ground on either side of the path, spacing them more or less equally, at a distance of about 3 inches apart.
- Now bend over the tops of each opposing pair so they meet in the middle.
- When you are happy with the height of the tunnel, tie the rods together at that point to form a series of arches.
- Strengthen the top of the tunnel by twirling any thin ends left over around the opposite rod and typing in the ends securely.
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Next Steps
- Now strengthen the sides of the tunnel and give your sweet peas plenty of horizontal supports to climb.
- Make sure the rods have been soaked so they are sufficiently flexible.
- Take a rod and carefully weave it horizontally through all the uprights, about 8 inches from the ground.
- If it doesn’t reach all the way to the end of the tunnel, continue with a new rod, tying any loose ends as you go.
- Repeat just above the first lateral, but this time weaving in the alternate pattern to create a strong bond.
- Weave in a further rod so you have three laterals and then repeat this on the other side of the tunnel.
- Weave in two further groups of laterals on each side, at about 16 inch intervals, so that the tunnel feels strong and secure.
Sowing Time
Now you are ready to sow your sweet peas.
- Space seeds about 2 inches apart along the base of the tunnel on each side.
- You want a profusion of colour, so really pack in the seeds.
- Water well and protect the seedlings from slugs and snails until they are established.
- Tie in the stems to the supports as they grow to help them along and when they start flowering, keep picking to encourage them to produce more blooms.
Gardening on a Shoestring
100 Fun Upcycled Garden Projects by Alex Mitchell
Buy it Here
Contents
- How to be a Shoestring Gardener
- Pots for a Pittance
- Style on a Shoestring
- Grow Food for Peanuts
- Now to Make New Plants for Free
- How Not to Waste Money on Gardening Supplies
- Keep Your Garden Healthy for (Almost) Nothing
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
Next
- 20+ Arbor, Trellis, & Obelisk Ideas | Empress of Dirt
- DIY Strawberry Arbor | Empress of Dirt
- DIY Outdoor Plant Shelf | Empress of Dirt
- DIY Trellis for Climbing Fruits & Veggies | Empress of Dirt
- How to Make a Wood Tomato Cage | Empress of Dirt
- How to Build Tomato Cages from Wood | Empress of Dirt
- Create a Staircase Plant Stand | Empress of Dirt
Melissa J. Will says
******************GIVEAWAY CLOSED*******************
Winners have been notified. Thank for entering!
Wendy Urbaniak says
Love all of your ideas and would love to win the book Gardening on a Shoestring.
Dee Fedor says
I would LOVE to win Gardening On A Shoestring, because that’s about all I’ve got!
Denise Maradiaga says
Gardening on a Shoestring sound great! That’s the way to go these days.
Cindy Montalbano says
Gardening on a Shoestring is right up my alley. My budget is zero these days. Any help I can get on how to do things cheaply is a blessing.
Anne says
This sweet pea arch is gorgeous!!! I’ve been looking for a new way to grow my sweet peas this year. Now I’m going to have to hunt down some willow branches!
Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
And that book! A shoestring definitely sums up my gardening budget. I’d love to win the book!
Ashley says
I would love to have Gardening on a Shoestring, but being dirt poor (see what I did there?!), I can’t afford it!! Until then, I will work on making a magnificent archway where sweet pea grows wild already. I have been slowly clearing my land and I have some woody weed things that might work just fine to make an archway…. Thank you so much for the inspiration!!
Linda Rielly says
I would love to win “Gardening on a Shoestring”. I even yesterday and today was just weeding and cleaning up my perennial bed. We’ve had a very mild and dry winter this year so I am able to get an earlier start on my gardening. Which makes me very happy. I love gardening, I even start my plants from seed, which are doing very well. I have planted sweet peas in the past but haven’t done well where I put them, so changing up this year and this arch looks easy enough to give it a try, thankyou.
Keila Bredehoeft says
Gardening on a Shoestring – Pretty much sums up my budget right now! I do love getting creative with thriftiness.
Joann says
I would love the ideas in Gardening on a Shoestring, since the willow arch sounds easy enough to make. I just started planting a bed along the side of my evolving shed…might get some exciting new projects percolating!
Marcia Strode says
Would love to win a copy of “Gardening on a Shoestring”, I’m always looking for ways to stretch my gardening budget. Going to have to start searching for those willow rods, I already have perennial sweet peas growing in the perfect spot for a short archway from one part of my garden to the other. Lol, they even started spreading wider last year than the trellis where they’ve been growing patiently for the last 15 years with no problems–so they’re just asking for something new.
Elaine Laster says
“Gardening on a Shoestring”. I love being outside in my garden. I’m working on a garden retreat on one side of my garden shed.
Amanda Callaghan says
I would like to win Gardening on a Shoestring 😬. I am a kindy teacher, and my role is to provide creative activities to excite children about the miracle of growing your own food!
The ultimate goal is to ‘normalise’ backyard food production from the early years. We observe plants from seeds and monitor their 360 degree cycle as they go from seed, plant, flower, fruit, and then back to seed again! We even collect seeds to put into our kindy seed library for parents to take home and plant with their children.
Justval says
Gardening on a Shoestring looks like such a great book. My stress reliever is working in the yard and garden. My greatest creation would be a sculpture made out of old lampshade frames wired together and painted a fabulous blue and also doubles as a trellis for peas or cukes!
Linda Greiss says
“Gardening on a Shoestring” looks like such a fun book! I especially love the sweet pea arbor. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book!
Lila Piercey says
I love to grow flowers! My husband would rather eat dirt than dig in it so every year I have to balance what I spend with his understanding of the reason for the expense. “Gardening on a Shoestring” would certainly help my case!
Susan Bryant says
Being retired, I really need to be “Gardening on a Shoestring”
Lisa Stewart says
I am Excited to start my garden with Gardening on a Shoestring!!🌻
Sandy Zimmer says
Gardening on a shoestring. We just put up 2 more raised beds this morning and I need ideas to get more veggie/herbs/flowers in there. Thanks for the giveaways and I’m going to make this arch.
Gina Gearhart says
Gardening on a Shoestring is a book that I could really use! Gardening helps me keep my sanity!
Irene Wilkinson says
“Gardening On A Shoestring” should be interesting reading. Like to garden but it is expensive so this may help. Thanks for the chance to win this book.
Theresa says
Thank you for the chance to win Gardening on a Shoestring. Sounds like a fabulous book. And thanks for such detailed instructions for growing the sweet pea arch. Looks for delicate and peaceful.
Dana says
Thank you to “Gardening on A Shoestring”
I love sweet peas and the sweet pea arch is a very creative way to grow them.
Marleine Nickles says
I’ve always gardened on a budget. I like saving money and having high quality food for my family. I preserve everything we don’t eat fresh. A copy of Gardening on a Shoestring, I’m sure, will give me even more ideas for saving on my gardening. I’m always open for new ways to do things.
Elizabeth Peterson says
Gardening on a Shoestring would give me great ideas to use with my granddaughter in the garden. She loves to get her hands in the soil just like her Mamaw! Spring is busting out all over here in Lincoln, Nebraska!
Cindy DeMay says
My mantra in my garden has always been to try and use what you have but in creative ways. I love the ideas that you’ve shown us in the book Gardening on a Shoestring. It would be a great thing to do with grandkids and children alike. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
Suzanne Rowe says
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Gardening on a Shoestring ! I love your newsletters .
Suzanne
Kelley says
“Gardening on a Shoestring” pretty much sums up my garden budget!
Nikki Gwin says
I have always loved the name of your website. And I do plan to plant me some sweet peas. I love their scent.
🙂
Kathryn O'Gara says
I would love to have “Gardening on a Shoestring”, as that is how I garden. It will be 70 here in Wi this weekend, unbelievable! I’ll be outside in the yard for sure!
cheryl miller says
your newsletter has been very helpful every month for this average gardener.
Carrie L. Mabry says
would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win Gardening on a Shoestring, just recently moved into a house and the back yard is pitiful and this would give me some more great ideas!!!!! love your newsletters.