WOODWORKING…MAKING A PERMANENT BEAN TRELLIS FOR MY GARDEN (ALMOST) FREE.

WOODWORKING…MAKING A PERMANENT BEAN TRELLIS FOR MY GARDEN (ALMOST) FREE.

A very simple project that takes about a day to complete. I said (almost free) because the wood I used came from the big box stores and are called “ kickers” they are pressure treated Timbers about 1.5 inches thick and about 3 inches wide by 44 inches long. Big box stores usually discard them and most are happy to give them away rather than fill their dumpsters. They use them under pressure treated lumber, to make it easier to get forklifts under the wood. The 6” timber spikes I purchased at my local flea market and got lucky. Brand new box of 50 at a .05 cents each. Yup $2.50 for the box. I used 3” drywall screws with 1/4 inch washers for the construction and 1 1/4 dry wall screws to hang the wire. The wire I purchased a few years ago . It’s electric fence wire. 1/2 mile for about $35.00 . I used about 180 ft. I am estimating that my total cost was about $11.00 or so. The planting auger is the key tool . You are drilling 12 holes for 45 feet about 15 inches deep. Post hole digger is an option. When setting up the posts in the ground , drill only about 15” deep and then tap them in with a 5 pound sledgehammer the rest of the way. About 20 inches deep , this is for stability. The bracing was cut 13 inches long at 45° on both ends and were attached with a 3 inch drywall screws and 1/4 inch washers. When setting the posts into the ground, after driving them 20 inches deep, I pounded the soil with a 2 x 4 and a sledgehammer to stabilize the posts first. Then I poured in two or three handfuls of three-quarter inch stone and pound that in with a 2 x 4 and a sledgehammer as well. Then I backfilled the entire hole. I used a total of 32 “ kickers” for this project. As always, if you have any questions, Comments or suggestions please reach out to me at [email protected]