A Twig Protects Seedlings From Wind | ~ Texas Homesteader ~

by Texas Homesteader ~

Here in NE Texas (zone 8) I typically plant heirloom seeds in my ‘Indoor Greenhouse’ in February and transplant those heirloom seedlings into my garden after the danger of frost has passed.

But when I place my tender seedlings in the garden I need to find a way to protect them from the wind. (and free-range chickens)

You know my battle cry: Use Whatcha Got, y’all! Check out this Homestead Hack.

Garden Tips

It seems vegetable-gardening planting is finally going on all over the US now. Aaaaaahhhhh the veggie garden – how I love it.

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But right now let’s talk about protecting those tender seedlings when they go into the garden.

Protecting Tender Seedlings

Protecting seedlings is not a new problem for me. There have been several incidences where I need to protect them either from our chickens, the weather or my own weeding mistakes.

I’ve used a free available resource to mark where I’ve planted seeds. That way I won’t mistake a new sprouting seedling for a weed needing to be pulled.

And I’ve also had to use that same free resource to protect young plants in my edible landscape beds from the chicken’s scratching. Their scratching around can really do some damage to young seedlings!

But now I’ll share how I use that same natural resource to protect young tender seedlings from the spring winds when I place seedlings in my vegetable garden.

Preventing Tender Seedlings From Wind Damage & Breakage

Spring tends to be pretty breezy here in NE Texas. So a seedling planted in the garden needs some protection.

This Homestead Hack is super easy y’all. And it was free. I simply cut a couple of small stems from a nearby tree. Then I criss-crossed them on either side of the seedling and pressed the end of each twig into the soil, wedging the plant between the two.

Benefits Of Protecting Seedlings From The Wind

This simple hack has several benefits:

All Natural

Free

Eco Friendly

No matter which way the wind comes through, this seedling is supported. And the twigs are all natural and either disappear beneath the growing foliage or you can remove them when you feel the plant is more secure on its own.

This hack always works great. Propping tender seedlings using the twigs at my fingertips costs nothing and looks very natural as opposed to of using something plastic.

Homestead Hacks are all about using what resources you have.

Use Whatcha Got!

~TxH~

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4 thoughts on “Homestead Hack: Propping Tender Seedlings”

candace at

We have replaced quite a bit of fencing – the kind that sort of woven into big open squares (I always called it hog wire but I doubt that’s what it’s really called) and is quite bendable. We have shaped it into circles to put around bigish plants or folded it lengthwise and draped it over a spot where large annual flowers will grow up through it and be supported by it. The only problem (not one for the birdman who lives with me – different set of sensibilities I guess) is that I am constantly trying to get all the squares back into their original and MUCH preferred shape! Ok ok, I am kind of goofy about some things, I will not go so far as to say obsessive compulsive tho!!! At this point in time I am trying to reclaim a long perennial bed that really got weedily out of control and then I’m off for a three week trip with a cousin to Europe. I’m pretty sure TBM who lives with me will not be into fussing with it so I’m going with thick layers of newspaper and several inches of bark nuggets on the top. It’s a lot of work and so far I’m only about 1/3 of the way along with the project. We are also plagued by moles. GAAAAK

Reply ↓

Texas Homesteader Post author at

Dealing with weeds is my least fun gardening activity too Candace. But the newspaper & mulch should at least keep your hard work looking good, huh? And Europe for 3 weeks? #jealous Have a great time, girlie!

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Nancy at

I have also done that. I have also made a teepee for beans and sweet peas out of larger sticks and twine. When my kids were very young they loved the teepees. Joshua, my University professor son, were just talking about fresh peas a few weeks ago. He loved them raw and fresh off the vine. Up here in Washington state w have wind storms and a lot of bigger limbs fall. If they were nice and straight they were trimmed and set aside for gardening purposes.