10
Tension wire trellis
holes deep enough for the sleeve. Tap in the bolt with a hammer then tighten the bolt with a shifting spanner, allowing the sleeve to twist and pull the fixture firmly onto the wall. For a timber fence: Set out the perimeter of the trellis so the sides attach to the fence posts, and the top and base attach to the fence rails. Check posts are securely fastened into the ground and the rails are not damaged or rotting. Drill pilot holes with a 4mm bit at the fixing points and intersections, then twist the screw eye hooks into the holes, using a shifting spanner to tighten. To set out the trellis, begin at the base with the longest stretch of wire. Thread the wire through a wire grip, loop it through the eye bolt or hook then back through the grip and tighten the nuts with an adjustable wrench. Tip: Always work from longest to shortest in case of measuring errors – you can use the mis-cut lengths of wire for shorter ones. Run the wire diagonally to the opposite fixing point, threading it through the intersection eye bolts or hooks. At the end, allow for about 100mm excess and trim the wire with wire cutters. Thread the wire through a grip, loop it around the eye bolt or hook, thread it back through the grip and pull it taut while tightening the nuts. Repeat with the remaining diagonals, threading the wire through the intersection eye bolts or hooks and pulling it as taut as possible when tightening the grips. Position the plants and attach the branches along the wire at regular points with budding tape. Tip: As the plant grows and becomes heavier, loosen the nuts of the wire grips with a shifting spanner to pull the wire taut, then re-tighten the nuts.
ON THE FENCE 3
Take it outside
TOOLS & MATERIALS
Safety equipment Tape measure Straightedge (use a straight length of timber or 1200mm level) Chalk in contrasting colour to the wall Drill (with hammer action for masonry) 4mm drill bit (for timber) or 8mm masonry drill bit (for masonry) Hammer (for masonry) Shifting spanner Adjustable wrench Wire rope cutters 40mm stainless steel screw eye hooks (for timber) 45mm DynaBolt eye bolt (for masonry) 3mm stainless steel wire rope 4mm stainless steel wire grips Budding tape
Your DIY toolkit
Wire trellis, added to a timber fence or masonry wall, is used as support for growing climbers or espaliering trees. Wire grips keep the wire taut and can be adjusted later as the plant grows and becomes heavier. Before installing, check that the structure you are using is sturdy and secure, and can take the weight of a growing plant. Tip: Always use galvanised or stainless steel wire and fasteners as they’re less prone to rusting.
1
To build a diamond-shape trellis, use a straightedge with chalk to mark out the perimeter, with the base at least 300mm above ground level. Mark the fixing points around all sides, setting out evenly at least 300mm apart. From the fixing points, chalk diagonal lines. Install eye hooks or bolts at the fixing points around the perimeter, and at every second intersection of the diagonal lines. For a masonry wall: Install DynaBolt anchors, using an 8mm masonry bit with a hammer drill to first make
2
1 Gardman 12mm budding tape, $5.06/40m, I/N: 2961162. 2 Pinnacle 3mm galvanised wire rope, $26.50/50m, I/N: 4310959. 3 Ramset ‘Brick DynaBolt’ 8mm x 45mm eye bolt, $3.87/pack of 2, I/N: 2265321. 4 Zenith 4mm stainless steel wire rope grip, $6.99/pack of 2, I/N: 4220119. 5 Zenith 42mm zinc plated screw eye, $1.91/pack of 2, I/N: 2443856.
1
2
4
5 3
4
5
Tick off this to-do list for tiptop outdoor areas. For more on what to do in the garden during July, go to bunnings.com.au/garden-diaries Mr Fothergill’s ‘Oxheart’ Eco Organic Garden Keep an eye out tomato seeds, $2.98, ‘Slasher’ organic weedkiller, for bindii (and other I/N: 2960396 $29.95/1L, I/N: 2962229 broadleaf weeds) In warmer and treat with a Prune roses: Grow a salad pot selective herbicide. climates, make the using sharp on your balcony or most of the cooler Yates ‘Weed ‘N’ Feed’ secateurs and a patio. Sow spinach, weather to grow buffalo pro weedkiller, quality pruning saw, Refresh paths, rocket, lettuce and cool-season vegies. $19.40/2.4L, I/N: 0178166 remove dead or decks and hard a mix of Asian Get started on Sow broccoli, kale, diseased wood. Cut surfaces by giving greens. They’re fast spring by sowing snow peas and back to one-third them a hose down growing, but if you early season swedes. It’s also a and spray with with a high-pressure can’t wait, pick tomatoes in seed good time to start lime sulfur to help power washer. For young leaves for a trays and placing an asparagus control pests and moss-ridden areas, gourmet addition them on a sunny patch – sow seeds fungal issues. spray with weedkiller. to your meals. windowsill. or plant crowns. ◆
bunnings.com.au |
bunnings |
bunnings
Words (DIY wire trellis) Natasha Dickins. Photography Shutterstock
This month in the garden