Cattle Panel Question

[Ruralhideaway]

Here is a list of approved sealants for polycarbonate roofing .

JT

Actually I have 2 tubes of DAP off that list. Bonus. Now for good weather.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'm contemplating putting my rabbit fence along the bottom before the panels go on so it's hidden. Buutttt...

There's going to be an 18" strip of dirt on the outside where I'll plant tall shade things, from seeds so they can just grow through the anti dig mats. It's occurring to me that if I cover this bed with a bit of chicken wire, as I'd planned to keep the chickens from digging it up, it'll stand digging predators back to the edge of the anti dig mats. Right where I don't want them. Anti dig mats getting bigger?

 

[aart]

Not sure the chicken wire on the ground will do well with stuff growing thru it,
the growth might lift the chicken wire.
What exactly are you going to plant?

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'm not going to put it right on the ground, rather angle it to the wall.

But you are still right, sunflowers and they have huge stems, not going to fit through. Might not even fit through 2x4 wire without lifting it.

So maybe just build a little fence with it?

 

[aart]

I would put down a good apron(#1 priority?)....
....and plant farther away, outside edge of apron.
Have had sunchokes and volunteer trees grow into my 2x4 apron, it's a PITA.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I would put down a good apron(#1 priority?)....
....and plant farther away, outside edge of apron.
Have had sunchokes and volunteer trees grow into my 2x4 apron, it's a PITA.

How wide an apron do you think?

 

[aart]

How wide an apron do you think?

At least 12"....18 is better IMO....24 is kinda overkill.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I'll have a look tomorrow and see what's best. I'd figured 18" for the skirt but didn't consider the complications with planting through it.

 

[aart]

Pokeweed might be an option, grows massively fast with large leaves and is a 'tender' perennial.....easy to rip out the remains once the frost kills it.
WAIT-NO...AhCrap, looks like it might be toxic to chickens.

I have some sunchokes growing in the garden next to the run(can't get rid of the damn things!).....they do throw nice shade, the chooks can eat the leaves, and I just have to pull the sprouts growing thru the apron(which I toss in the run).......it's bittersweet.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Pokeweed might be an option, grows massively fast with large leaves and is a 'tender' perennial.....easy to rip out the remains once the frost kills it.
WAIT-NO...AhCrap, looks like it might be toxic to chickens.

I have some sunchokes growing in the garden next to the run(can't get rid of the damn things!).....they do throw nice shade, the chooks can eat the leaves, and I just have to pull the sprouts growing thru the apron(which I toss in the run).......it's bittersweet.

That's Jerusalem artichoke I gather from googling. Interesting plant, very healthy it seems. Sunflowers love it here, grow 9 feet easily. But they leave a big root clump. Not terrible normally but caught up in wire, not so fun. Then again they are compact and polite at the soil level. Might really only need 8" of bed.

I think I'll look for some sunchoke plants they sound worth having. Do you eat them?