Living "Arch"

NEIndiana · #1 06-04-2008, 12:58 AM

Here is an idea for the use of hog panels or cattle panels, depending on the size of garden you have or project it's needed for. I have 3 hog panels that bend up to create an arch, anchored by a T post on each corner. Our soil is so loamy that we have to really beat the T posts down deep. Plant your gourds, green beans, peas, or any climbing vine at the base of them. As they grow up, it creates a great archway. I've got gourds on two of them, and on the third one at the other end of the garden, peas and green beans will be climbing all over them in no time.

Bird Lover · #2 06-04-2008, 10:33 AM

That's such a clever idea Elaine! I'd like to see one up close once the vines cover it & form an arch. Lucky you , with loamy soil. Everywhere I dig here I hit rocks!

Sirk · #3 06-04-2008, 02:37 PM

That's really nice looking! Good idea!

herasday · #4 06-04-2008, 04:21 PM

My favorite niece (remember gardenbaby...Char?) made some of these at her old house. I think she used cow panels, though, for hers. Not sure why and it looks like the hog panels work fine, too. They were very sturdy and permanent and made lovely arbors. And you could put garden seats under them too. I think Char had one of her windchimes hanging under one or more of hers.

Yes, Elaine...make sure to post more pics when your vines are covering them.

NEIndiana · #5 06-04-2008, 04:31 PM

Thanks everyone and yes, I will definately post more pictures once the vines grow up them. As for the bench under one....we have a lot of bird traffic and somehow, I don't think that would be a very good idea for us. LOL I am going to hang a bird feeder from one of them though. I'm sure the birds would be delighted to have some snacking food instead of just slimy worms and bugs.

NEIndiana · #6 06-04-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bird Lover

That's such a clever idea Elaine! I'd like to see one up close once the vines cover it & form an arch. Lucky you , with loamy soil. Everywhere I dig here I hit rocks!

hehheeh Pat, does that mean you wanna come out here and see it personally? If you do that, you are going home with a kitten or two!

Bird Lover · #7 06-04-2008, 06:32 PM

Haha, as much as I love kittens (and your have some real adorable ones) I can only take one cat at a time. Mine weighs close to 30 pounds. Maybe he's even more by now, he doesn't move too much anymore. At 13 years old, he's slowed down a bit. I don't think I could afford to feed any more!

greenasagourd · #8 06-05-2008, 03:54 AM

Love it! Very creative. That will look great when the vines take over. I'm with Birdie: Loam? What's loam?

NEIndiana · #9 06-06-2008, 06:45 PM

Loam is that nice rich soil that we have worked so hard to create here. Lots of fall leaves along with compost materials mixed in. When we do the fall tilling, all the leaves are worked into the soil. When we spring till, everything is so rich that I have to be really careful not to drop any seeds along the way that I shouldn't. Everything grows way too well.

NEIndiana · #10 07-29-2008, 12:43 AM

Here's a recent picture of my Living Arch gourd style. The gourds are actually so happy here that the vine actually reaches up into the trees and continues to climb upwards.
The second pic is of the Egg Gourds that are actually growing on the arch. They are the size of large eggs so will probably decorate them up for Easter and put in a basket for a centerpiece.