What did you do in the garden today?

[fuzzi]

I have had success along those lines with something like this Google pic....

View attachment 3565703

I just used some 2X2's for the frame and tacked on some chicken wire. It keeps the rabbits and deer out of the raised bed. Most of my raised beds are 4X4 feet, so no big deal to lift it off if/when I need to. However, most of the time, the cage sits on top of the raised bed for weeks, if not months, after I set it up.

If you have longer, bigger, raised beds, you could attach the cage frame to the raised bed with some hinges and prop it up with a board when you need to get inside.

What I like about the lift off cage approach is that the same cage will fit on any of my other 4X4 raised beds. I often move my plants from year to year into different beds, so the cage just get puts on the bed where I need to protect those plants.

I could see that if you have a larger raised bed, maybe some heavier, more permanent 2X4 framing with removable panels would work better. In any case, it looks like it might be an excellent use of pallet wood 2X4's or other reclaimed lumber.

The deer have never pushed off one of my cages to get to the plants, but if they did, I'd just add some hinges and/or hooks to lock the cage down on to the raised bed.

I know in my case, it was much easier and more cost effective to protect my raised beds with a chicken wire cage where needed instead of trying to put up fencing to protect the entire garden.

Like.

I wonder if a cattle panel with bird netting over it might work?

 

[fuzzi]

Hot Hot Hot here today. Temperature was 94°, index was 107°.

In the morning I checked on the flock, then the gardens. Found a bunch of Army worms on the tomatoes, but they were much smaller than the previous bunches. I picked off a couple dozen, and the pullets were especially enthusiastic about me sharing the worms with them.

No eggs, yet.

Two more squash! (3?)

I had broken down a bunch of cardboard boxes earlier this week, and decided to lay them down over the disintegrating cardboard I'd used as weed barrier between the raised beds. The clay pots help to keep them in place.

I filled the bird baths and watered the house plants on my porch (it's covered, so they don't receive rain).

By that time I was literally drenched in perspiration and did the smart thing, went inside for the rest of the day.

 

[gtaus]

Like.

I wonder if a cattle panel with bird netting over it might work?

I imagine it would work just fine. In fact, if you used cattle panel, you might not even need a wood frame. That cattle panel is really rigid stuff - at least the stuff I know about.

Having said that, I don't know what the cost would be using chicken wire versus cattle panel + bird netting.

Another option might be to build a 2X2 wood frame out of some pallet wood and staple the bird netting on to the frame. Bird netting is really inexpensive, and I would think it would be strong enough to deter a nosey deer.

 

[gtaus]

I need to build 4 frames approximately 7.5 feet long by 4 feet high to attach the wire fencing onto. These will be the removable side panels.

Love the pictures. Hope you upload the finished project once you get the removable side panels in place. Would like to see how you make it. Thanks.

I could cover the structure with plastic if I want to make a greenhouse for cold weather. Rig up a slanted roof of some kind.

Yes, even cheap plastic should be good enough for at least one season. I'd just staple it right over the wire and take it off when no longer needed. Even if you have to dispose of the plastic after one growing period, it can be the inexpensive plastic and you would still have a nice greenhouse/cold frame for the season. I like that idea.

 

[fuzzi]

I imagine it would work just fine. In fact, if you used cattle panel, you might not even need a wood frame. That cattle panel is really rigid stuff - at least the stuff I know about.

Having said that, I don't know what the cost would be using chicken wire versus cattle panel + bird netting.

Another option might be to build a 2X2 wood frame out of some pallet wood and staple the bird netting on to the frame. Bird netting is really inexpensive, and I would think it would be strong enough to deter a nosey deer.

Cattle panels are about $35 here, 16'x50".

I've made trellises from them, they're easier to handle once they've been bent.

 

[Sueby]

Been super rainy here, we had 3.7 inches of rain last night & today. We need it though so I'm not complaining. Mother Nature is turning up the heat this week though, saying it will be a heat wave for us. Joy. I hate hot.

 

[Smokerbill]

Taking a break. Weird, the heat index here is strange. It's 90 degrees, heat index of 88 degrees???? Maybe it's the low humidity (20%) and light breezes that makes the heat index lower than the actual temperature. It's a dry heat. LOL

At least the raised bed I'm working on is in the shade now and for the rest of the day. I finished closing the ends in with fencing and it's looking pretty good!

After I cool off and drink a couple big glasses of water I'll start working on the side panels. Fun 4th of July for me!

I can't wait for the neighbors to start shooting off fireworks. NOT!
Maybe I'll pull out my old 12 gauge and fire a few rounds. That'll make some noise....

 

[Sally PB]

I've made trellises from them, they're easier to handle once they've been bent.

How do you bend cattle panel?

 

[Burnt Brass Homestead]

I spent the morning weeding in the greenhouse. Tomorrow I plan on replanting some seeds in the bare areas. As well as planning out my fall/winter garden.

 

[fuzzi]

How do you bend cattle panel?

See my post here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-26962599