*Garden Hail Screens*
By: TexasOk
29 April 2018

Recent weather events (May 2019) and subsequent crop damage in many areas of the world suggest republishing this article from the Member's-Only section might be appropriate. The original article is unchanged so the publication date carried over.

Nothing is worse to spend time in a garden only to have a hail storm or flock of birds to destroy your hardwork in just minutes. What if you were depending on this crop to put food on the table for your family to survive ?

Here is how I built some self supporting hail screens to protect 2 16' rows of onions from a hail storm using 2 50" by 16' livestock panels and a roll of 40" black metal hardware screen.

Tools needed for the project

• Bolt Cutters
• Tape Measure
• Hog Ring Pliers
• Screen Shears
• Supply of Hog Rings
• Marking Pen

• Start out by cutting the panel in half longways
• I also cut mine in 8' lengths for ease of installation.
• Lay 2 sections side by side and fasten together with hog rings so that they will be able to hinge to form a inverted V.

The pointed ends will push into the soil and support the screens when installed.

• Roll out your hardware screen and place the hinged panel on the screen.
• Cut to length adding about 3" using the screen shears to allow folding the ends over the panels and crimp with the hog rings as shown.

When installed the screen should rest on the cut livestock panels.

These will fold flat and will last many seasons as needed to protect delicate plants from hail storms or birds while still allowing rain and sunlight to take care of the plants and help you protect your food supply.

Before install

After install

www.alpharubicon.com
All materials at this site not otherwise credited are Copyright © 1996 - 2018 Trip Williams. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for personal use only. Use of any material contained herein is subject to stated terms or written permission.