The Fence Post

 Helping Plants Thrive

Hortonova is an extruded polypropylene support netting made by Tenax. It is designed to help you grow healthy and thriving flowers and plants. Whether you're a commercial grower or a backyard gardener, Hortonova will be a great addition to your garden. There are different mesh sizes and roll sizes available for both vegetables and flowers. Use the following suggestions to properly set up your netting:

Hortonova Installation for Vegetables:

1. Set supporting posts 25 feet apart. Stretch cable from top of one post to the other.
2. Secure net to first post with nylon string.
3. Attach netting along cable by running nylon string through top meshes.

1. Erect strong wood or metal support posts with pre-drilled holes fr each layer of net required during growth cycle.
2. Post should be set at maximum distance of 20 feet apart.
3. Bolt wooden crossbar between each set of support posts at first level.
4. Pull mesh taut and attach or weave netting to the wood crossbar.
5. For added support, weave 16 gauge wire along the edge of netting and to vertical support posts.
6. Add subsequent layers of netting as growth cycle progresses.

And here's an excellent demonstration about trellising your garden.

Try Hortonova. Give your plants every advantage and enjoy the satisfaction of a larger and better quality yield.

Wood slat snow fence is another possibility. Although it may be difficult to get a smooth flat surface for smaller pots, it is a simple, quick and inexpensive solution. The possibility of rot and broken slats can present problems over time. If you want a longer lasting and more permanent bench, use a metal mesh.

Expanded metal can be used for the tops of greenhouse benches. Rugged and strong, these products are usually available in sheets of different dimensions as well as different finishes.

Bracing is Essential

Take a look at this video from the folks at Bekaert. Learn how to put up 2" x 4" woven mesh horse fencing.

Any questions or comments?

The Advantages of High Tensile Wire

• Are you thinking about using field fence to enclose your animals and property?
• Agricultural fencing is available in two types of wires: low carbon and high tensile. What's the difference?
• Is there an advantage to using one over the other?

Low Carbon Wire - easy to work with, but...

For years, traditional field and farm fence have been made using low carbon wire. Low carbon wire used in fencing is usually made from steel rod with a carbon content of approximately 0.10%. It is easy to work with but is prone to stretching and sagging. It requires regular maintenance and is weaker than high tensile wire.

High Tensile Wire - inherently Stronger

This wire has become very popular due to its advantages. It is made from steel rod with a carbon content of approximately 0.28%. Higher carbon content makes high tensile wire stronger. Its higher psi rating gives it a higher breaking strength. To get the same strength, you can use a lighter gauge high tensile wire in place of a heavier low carbon wire. You can complete your project at a lower cost.

• Lighter weight also means easier handling and installation. Fewer posts are required so you can increase the spacing between posts. If installed properly, high tensile fences require little maintenance. Re-tensioning is not necessary.

• During installation high tensile fencing requires less tension to make it tight. The wire is stiffer and will not stretch and sag. This characteristic gives it flexibility - it will give and bounce back when animals lean against it.

This video shows quite dramatically the differences between these two types of wire:

Top Netting used at the Birmingham Zoo 

Notice how this netting is attached to a 12.5 gauge woven 2" x 4" mesh fence

You have a collection of valuable birds you want to contain within a certain area. You want the birds to be safe from predatory birds from above. You want to cover a large area. You want a high ceiling or open roof. Installation needs to be as easy, safe, and as fast as possible. The material you use must be soft and flexible, enough so that the birds will not hurt themselves when they come in contact with the netting while they are in flight.

What can satisfy all these requirements?

Flight Pen Top Netting - long life and easy to use

Used by zoos, commercial game bird farms, animal rehabilitation, and backyard hobbyists. The multiple strands of woven black polypropylene provide protection for your birds. Here's a list of the benefits:

• Rolls are lightweight and easy to handle
• Support structure can be less robust, less expensive
• Large size rolls make it easier to cover large areas
• No need to make a patchwork of smaller rolls
• Flexibility makes top net softer - less chance of injuring yourself and your birds
• Available in a wide variety of roll sizes, weight, and mesh sizes
• UV resistant for long life
• Top net will not rust
• Mesh is resistant to mildew and rot

Do you have any birds that need safety and protection?