Stopping garden arch going rusty at base

[Marb67]

I have bought one of those cheap garden arches which I have had a few of over the years. I am not interested in the cast iron (very expensive ) type or wooden so I am happy with this thin, unobtrusive type. I understand they don't last forever but I would like to keep it longer than a season before the legs rust as they are buried in the soil of my raised beds. I don't want concrete in them so are there any tips for protecting them so they last a bit longer please ?

[veggiechicken]

Could you put the legs inside plastic tubing? Not sure about the diameter - maybe waste pipe or hose pipe?

[sparrow100]

I take mine out each autumn so they aren't standing in wet ground. They still won't last forever though. Which reminds me I'd like a couple more!

[Greenleaves]

They tend to rust from the inside out, I had a cheap blow away once with the same type of steel so sealed the insides of the legs with silicone, still only lasted 2 years

[ESBkevin]

There are paints that 'convert' rust to hard deposits and other paints that coat metal and last a long time, BUT they are all a little weaker in recent years due to H&S concerns.
I would think a coat of something suitable and possibly dipping (if it's a hollow tube) would give added protection. Even Hamm3rite doesn't protect like it once did, but it will bive you w few more years.
If you buy a new one and know someone with the equipment in thier factory/workshop, then powdercoating is as good as anything, but it must be new clean metal.

[Marb67]

I think the hosepipe sounds a good idea VC. Perhaps coat with veg oil too before going inside and then seal it.

[veggiechicken]

Anything's worth a try Marb!

If you had some metal rods that would fit inside the legs, you could hammer those into the ground and drop the frame onto them. This would keep the frame out of the soil and give it a bit of rigidity too.

[Jay-ell]

Me, I just end up with shorter arches every year. Next year I'll probably have my strawberries growing over an arch - any one limbo?

The cheap arches I bought seem to rust away at the bottom after oner season. I have a more expensive arch (not a cast iron one, still tubular steel - with a gate) which is in permanently and is faring better - although that's basically resting on the dirt and is screwed to the fence with pipe clamps.

[Marb67]

The same kind of arch I have had for over 15 years and I am sure they were made of better, thicker longer lasting metal then.