Another Top Tip Please

[poultrychat]

This is more advice than top tip but it is in the section called 'over the fence' and I didn't know where else to ask..........

2 questions -

1. I am using blackberries as a 'fence' between my fruit trees and veggie beds, I have 2 weeks holidays coming up and I intend to actually put the posts and wires up (I only planted the bushes last year) can anyone tell me what diameter posts I should use for them?

2. I have a small field with a bank on one side that I have nearly finished clearing of asbestos and I intend to plant a native hedge where the bank meets the field in the autumn but I need to get rid of the rest of a dilapidated fence in the meantime and intend to replace it with windbreak netting, does anyone know again what size posts to use or how far apart the posts will need to be to support the netting, if it helps at all I will need a 50m roll and depending on the ground the posts will be bought 8ft high but probably end up only 5ft high. The bank runs east to west so which is a better side to plant the hedge?


I hope that all makes sense to someone

[nick the grief]

1. I'd put up normal fence posts PC for this as you will need to strain the wires also you could put some half round on the top as capping & to help keep the posts apart.

2. Are you leaving the windbreak netting up Permenantly? If so I would plant on the side you can see otherwise you'll be looking at netting forever. If it's only temp, it doesn't matter but I would still plant on the side you can see as the saplings will get established quicker if they aren't being buffeted by wind.

What sort of netting depends on the spacing of the posts But I would guess you'll need 2 or 3 strands of wire anyway and fasten the netting to this inbetween posts & the posts about 8' to 10' apart depending on the type of netting.

[poultrychat]

Thanks ntg, I didn't think of putting half round posts on top.

The wind break will be up until the hedge starts to take off so about 2-3 years, the netting doesn't bother me to look at as in comparison to what has been there for the last 2 years it will look very nice , but once the hedge has taken off then the fence will come down - thanks very much for helping ntg I will plant the hedge inside the netting

[nick the grief]

HI PC,

The Half round just stops the water getting into the top of the posts. You can cut at an angle but I think it looks nicer. If your posts are high enough & the blackberry doesnt cover all of it you could put a hanging basket in between the posts to fill the gap & give more colour.

[sewer rat]

Hi PC
1. As Nick states, use bog standard fenceposts with either caps or the tops cut at a slight angle (after melling them in) to keep the water from entering the posts and splitting the wood.

2. Put your posts three yards apart - this is the normal spacing. Place your two end posts first then string your bottom wire - this ensures you get a straight line for the rest of your posts. Depending on the length of the fence, and how taught you want the wires, you may want to brace the end posts with another post set into it at an angle. I would use three wires, top, middle and bottom to hold your net. You can attach it with strings, pull-ties, wire loops or you could hire a fencing stapler that they use to attch Rylock fencing to wires on stock fences.

Hope this helps

[poultrychat]

Thanks you two - I don't suppose you know anyone cheaper than tildenet do you?

[nick the grief]

Try LBS or NA KAys. It depends how much you want to stop PC If its more a case of privacy till the hedge grows you'll needa 50 or 60% netting If it's jus to filter the wind a tad, you can get some lighter weight mesh

[sewer rat]

PC
Have a look at this site - lists a whole heap of suppliers, including tildenet.
www.grow.co.uk