It’s no surprise that chicken wire, however, unpretty it is, is essential for me because I was raised in the backwoods! Chicken wire is something we use for EVERYTHING.
Last year I had a horrible ground squirrel issue, and these cloches were something I whipped up on a whim. All you need is chicken wire (I keep some around at all times) and wire cutters. Mine are from Garrett Wade, and they are superb! The trick with wire-cutters is to find some that require minimal muscle strain.
The video below shows how I make my garden cloches, but it’s the easiest DIY of all, requiring just a little bending of wires into shape.
Cloche Making Directions
Step 1: Unroll Chicken Wire
Unroll chicken wire. It can be feisty, so get something heavy to hold it down. That makes it easy to measure and figure out where you need to cut. Seriously, the wire cutters are sort of a non-negotiable, because they do such a good job with chicken wire.
Step 2: Make Your First Cuts
Make your cuts straight through the middle of the chicken wire hexagons, so that you're getting a straight, even cut throughout. Once you're done, put away the excess chicken wire.
Step 3: Cut It Again at Your Desired Height
I cut it the chicken wire in half where there's a solid wire running through the center. I make sure to keep that wire intact, so I cut right above it.
Step 4: Twist Your Cloche Into Shape
This is why I love chicken wire- it's so easy and malleable to make your desired shape. Make sure to watch out for any sharp points, but this step is probably the easiest one. First, close your cloche by bringing the two sides together and twisting the loose wires into each other.
Then, scrunch the top so critters can't get in there. And there you go!
To keep your cloches on your plants, consider using some landscape pins at the base.
It's not the prettiest thing, but it's so functional and easy to make. Good luck with those pesky pests this year!
Video on How to Make a Cloche with Chicken Wire | Bailey van Tassel
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What's really needed is a cutter that will cut virtually flush to the surface. This German-made tool will do just that. Plus the hinge geometry is specially designed to provide exceptionally high leverage. (For example, it will cut hardened piano wire up to 1/8" in diameter and soft steel wire up to 1/4".) A pro's tool made by Germany's #1 maker of hand mechanical tools.
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