Garden Stakes

by Linda
(Lincolnton, NC)

I want to make some garden stakes as gifts for my gardening friends. Will copper foil pieces hold up outdoors or should I use lead? And if I use lead, does the piece have to be cemented and finished or will it hold up outdoors without sealing?

Answer

Copper foil will be fine. I have foiled garden stakes I made 5 years ago that are in excellent condition.

If you did them in lead, yes they should be puttied. The glass is loose in unputtied leaded pieces and with wind, etc, the lead would stretch and the glass would eventually fall out. Foil is a much better option for garden stakes.