DIY Arch Support Ideas?

[AnnPann]

I want to make some low arches to use as pole bean supports in my chicken run this year. Low because I won't really care if I get any beans out of these plants, so I don't need to go under the arch. My goal is just to add some cooler green shade to a run that has no tree cover in an area that gets really windy at times (so shade cloths are doable, but I have to take them down a lot b/c of all the storms/wind).

(and yes, I know the chickens will destroy the plants when they come up - I plan on protecting them until they are well established, and protecting the base of the plants so they don't get dug up).

I want to do something like this, but I don't want to spend $60 on it.

Anyone DIY something similar? Preferably that doesn't involve 16' cattle panels. I have a lot of PVC, chicken wire, and HWC on hand. Some Omlet plastic chicken fence. I feel like there has to be some life-changing method of attaching HWC or CW to PVC without shredding my hands, but I haven't found it yet.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I want to make some low arches to use as pole bean supports in my chicken run this year. Low because I won't really care if I get any beans out of these plants, so I don't need to go under the arch. My goal is just to add some cooler green shade to a run that has no tree cover in an area that gets really windy at times (so shade cloths are doable, but I have to take them down a lot b/c of all the storms/wind).

(and yes, I know the chickens will destroy the plants when they come up - I plan on protecting them until they are well established, and protecting the base of the plants so they don't get dug up).

I want to do something like this, but I don't want to spend $60 on it.

View attachment 4073878

Anyone DIY something similar? Preferably that doesn't involve 16' cattle panels. I have a lot of PVC, chicken wire, and HWC on hand. Some Omlet plastic chicken fence. I feel like there has to be some life-changing method of attaching HWC or CW to PVC without shredding my hands, but I haven't found it yet.

PVC doesn't have the strength, sorry. Even 3/4" pvc at just 4' in length will start to warp and whip. I have sprinkler heads on 4' risers and they are all over the place. I'm reinforcing w/ T-posts.

 

[Sally PB]

I feel like there has to be some life-changing method of attaching HWC or CW to PVC without shredding my hands, but I haven't found it yet.

I use zip ties, and tie as I go. If I have any extra length I need to cut off, the end where I'm cutting is already secure. Wrapping curl IN (ie, away from you) helps when you're cutting the end off.

Having a second pair of hands helps, but I'm able to do this by myself.

If you have some scrap pieces of lumber, can you fashion some kind of arch out of that?

 

[Smokerbill]

It would be really difficult to remove the vines from hardware cloth at season's end. Remesh sheets (6"x6") are fairly inexpensive and easy to work with. That's what I used as a trellis for my climbing beans last year, and the vines were easy to remove. A few t-posts would support the arch.

 

[AnnPann]

It would be really difficult to remove the vines from hardware cloth at season's end. Remesh sheets (6"x6") are fairly inexpensive and easy to work with. That's what I used as a trellis for my climbing beans last year, and the vines were easy to remove. A few t-posts would support the arch.

View attachment 4074156

This is the kind of idea I was looking for! Yes HWC would be such a pain to clean up. And I have a few t-posts I could repurpose for this. Thx!!