- 1). Gather the materials listed in Things You'll Need. If you cannot find fresh willow, then soak older, dried-out willow limbs in a large container of water overnight or until pliable.
- 2). Prepare the garden area by clearing any weeds and unwanted plant growth. Level the ground in the area with your shovel.
- 3). Stand an uneven number of rigid poles together to form the shape of a wigwam. Temporarily tie a short length of twine around the poles near the top to secure them while you complete the rest of the construction process.
- 4). Wrap two or three pliable willow stems around the group of poles about 4 inches down from their tops to bind the poles tightly to each other. Push the willow securely into the wrapping to hold the willow in place. When a tight binding has been formed, if you feel the obelisk is stable, then remove the temporary twine.
- 5). Twist two pliable willow stems together loosely before wrapping them around and weaving them in and out of the upright poles to make bindings about 2 inches wide in two places--roughly one-third and two-thirds of the distance between the top binding and ground level. Trim, and tuck any loose ends of willow to the inside of the obelisk as you work.
- 6). Move the obelisk to the garden space. If you are planting a climber, like jasmine or ivy, then do so before you place the obelisk, and work the stems up the poles as the plants grow.
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