Materials You'll Need
You are going to need just a couple of very inexpensive items to complete this project. Here is what you are going to need:
- PVC pipes, ½" in diameter: You will want these types of flexible pipes to easily bend into your hoop structure. Selecting pipes that are approximately 10 feet long provides an arch that will span most garden beds with a decent amount of headroom.
- Rebar, 20" lengths: You will use the rebar stake to secure your PVC pipes very tightly into the ground. These metal stakes hold your hoops in place during windy conditions.
- Row cover fabric or plastic sheeting: For protection against pests, you need lightweight row cover fabric, or for frost protection, thicker plastic sheeting. Be sure it is wide enough to cover the whole bamboo structure.
- Spring clamps or garden clips: Used to hold down the fabric or plastic tightly on the hoops.
- Pipe insulation or soft rubber tubing: This should be placed on the sides of the hoops to see that the material of the cover is prevented from tearing where it is in contact with PVC.
- Bricks, sand bags or heavy objects: These will secure the edges of the cover from the spreading out by weight perceptions that can hold the cover in place even if strong winds blew.
Step by Step Guide to Building Row Cover Hoops
1. Prepare the Ground
But before you build your hoops, get the bed ready. Mark where your rebar stakes are going to be, approximately 3 feet apart on either side of your garden bed. Use a mallet to drive it into the ground, leaving about 8 inches of the stake above the earth so you have a sturdy base for your PVC hoops.
2. Form the Hoops.
Use the pre-cut PVC pipes and bend them into an arch to cover the bed in the garden. The height of the hoops will depend on the length of the pipe, so choose appropriately if you think that some high plants will sit beneath them. Slip one end of the PVC pipe over a rebar stake and curve the pipe until the opposite end can be slipped over the stake. This may take some force, but this will naturally create a pretty solid hoop.
3. Attach the Hoops
Connect the tops of the arches with a ridge pole to help prevent this shifting or collapsing. This is done with another length of PVC pipe run over the tops of the hoops. Use a lot of zip ties or duct tape to hold them on. The ridge pole will add structure to the hoops. Last, the ridge pole will keep the row cover firmly and securely in place.
4. Cover Your Hoops
Drape the fabric or plastic sheathing over the hoops, ensuring that it goes over the structure all the way to the ground on both sides. Use spring clamps or garden clips to secure the cover to the PVC pipes at regular intervals around the bed. This is a crucial task so that the cover doesn't blow away in the wind and actually protects the plants from frost. Weight the edges down to secure them with things that are heavy, like weights, bricks, or sandbags, during windy days to hold the tarp over firmly in place. This also helps in trapping warmth and keeping out pests.
5. Secure the Ends
In wind-prone areas, provide the row cover with added security. Wrap the ends of fabric or plastic around a sturdy stake and pin to the ground. Use tent pegs or rocks to hold in place. This will secure the cover, yet you can still get underneath the cover quickly to access your plants.
Tips and Tricks
Alternative Materials: For a stronger or more permanent hoop house, you can use metal hoops or even cattle panels. These are far stiffer than PVC but give your row covers more strength and endurance in the elements. Just be sure to file down any sharp edges to prevent damage to your row cover fabric.
Selecting the Appropriate Cover: Determining the kind of covering material to be used is contingent on what one intends to achieve in the gardening exercise. In the control of pests, lightweight fabrics, such as garden fleece, are just perfect because they allow penetration of sunlight and rain, yet they keep off the insects. In the protection of frost, however, it is advisable to consider thicker plastic sheeting due to the insulating effect, though probably venting may be necessary to avoid overheating on sunny days. Knowing what your plants require will guide you to the most efficient cover.
Add a Cover and Protect it: This easy protection solution will prolong the life of your row cover with protection from rubbing on the top surface of the PVC hoops. Simply wrap the edges of the PVC hoops with pipe insulation or soft rubber tubing. This way, you won't have to bear the wear and tear that occurs where the cover material contacts the hoops, sparing you frequent replacements.
Benefits of Gardening Row Cover Hoops
The garden row cover hoops provide an amateur or experienced gardener with a much-needed gardening tool, many advantages of which will protect pests from bad weather and create a microclimate that can dramatically stretch out your growing season. These row cover hoops trap warmth and can let you start off a little earlier in the spring and last a bit into the fall during the harvest. They also reduce the use of chemical pesticides, as the pests are physically blocked by the hoops, and hence they are a much safer and more viable way to garden.
Conclusion
Building your hoop row cover is a cinch and a very high-yield project in terms of payback in far healthier and hardy plants. Whether you're protecting tender seedlings from frost, keeping insects at bay, or extending the gardening season, these hoops are an invaluable addition to your gardening toolkit. With the instructions in this guide and tips, you will be on your way to a great garden protected from above.
So, grab the things you need, block off a few hours in your day, and get ready to raise up a frame that will keep your garden lush and booming from season to season. Your plants—and your future self will thank you!
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