Mixed Bag

Protective Cover for Raised Beds

Once you have finished your raised planting bed you will probably start noticing that something is digging holes in your well-tended soil or maybe even munching on the tender green shoots that come up. These little or even big invaders no matter how cute must be stopped! I personally had a major squirrel problem and this project was the only thing I found to be a animal friendly long-term solution. This cover is a complimentary project for the raised bed and is easy, it should only take you part of one day to complete.

The rough cost of this project is around $55.00-$60.00 (if you have the tools already)

Tools:

• Hack Saw (Optional)
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Safety Glasses

Materials:

For a 4′ x 4′ Bed:

• 44′  Total of 1″ Diameter PVC Pipe – Cut into Lengths:
  (2x 10′) (6x 4′).
• One Package of 14′x14′ Tree Netting Cut:
  one (10½’x4½’) piece for the top
  and two (4½’x4½’ ) pieces for the sides
• Roll of Twine
• 8x 8″ Cable Ties

For a 8′ x 4′ Bed:

• 70′ Total of 1″ Diameter PVC Pipe – Cut into Lengths:
  (3x 10′) (4x 8′) (2x 4′)
• One Package of 14′x14′ Tree Netting Cut:
  one (10½’x8½’ ) piece for the top
  and two (4½’x4½’ ) pieces for the sides
• Roll of Twine
• 12x 8″ Cable Ties

Notes:

• I had some of my pipe cut where I purchased it. The remaining uncut pieces I cut with the hack saw.
• If you bend PVC too far it will shatter.
• For a 4′x4′ bed you will only need two 10′ lengths for the arches, one in each corner.
• The cable ties hold best if you cross two, one over the other, for each connection.
• Use the Pliers to tighten the cable ties.
• Make sure that the netting not only touches the top of your bed but also has three inches extra on each side.

First take the three 10′ pipes and shove the ends down 9″ into one length of the bed, two of the pipes in each corner and one in the middle. Then arch the pipes width-wise to the opposite side and shove down 9″ into the bed. Now using the cable ties attach the two 8′ pipes to each of the arches on both sides of the structure making sure they are high enough to not be in the way but low enough to stabilize the structure. Next cut the piece of netting for the top of the arches. Use the twine to tie the edges down at the top of the structure, stop tying when you get to the horizontal pipe. Then cut two pieces of netting for the sides of the structure. Tie those to the top of the sides stopping when you get to the ends of the horizontal pipe. You can trim the excess netting off the corners once all sides are tied. Next lay the remaining pipe on top of the extra 3″ of netting on all sides then tie the netting around the pipe. This will hold the netting down to keep the critters out.

Cut 4x 12″ of twine and use those to tie (in a bow for easy to removal ) the corners together. When you need to water or tend your garden all you have to do is untie the corners, lift up the netting sides, then rest the netting and pipe on top of the structure. The only things this cover does not keep out are insects.