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Littleton, Colo

Wind protection ideas?? I'm thinking of putting up the black fabric seen at construction sites around my patches. Anybody use this?? Does it work?? Or any better ideas ?? Thank You !! The Biz

5/20/2007 10:58:01 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

It depends on the size of your patch and how fast the wind is blowing. I'm trying snow fencing with shade cloth this year. Still blows down. . . Where's that picture of the guy with the 30 foot high wind fence?

5/20/2007 11:05:53 PM

Littleton, Colo

Thanks Boom Boom ! About two 25x30 patches next to each other. Wind speed at worst gust to maybe 30-40mph especially after a storm has blown by. The Biz

5/20/2007 11:14:33 PM

Colorado

yeah, the black silt fence works great out here. I keep mine close to the plant and adjust it weekly as the plant grows... stake it in real good... we'll probably get a few days above 40 mph...

5/21/2007 12:54:24 AM

Ohio

Biz, Ill tell you what I been using and it works like a charm, Ill take a couple 2x4's spread them out across from each other about 8 ft apart and drive them into the ground, then Ill take siran wrap(the widest I can find) and wrap back and forth around the two 2x4's, I always leave a few 2 inch gaps for some air to get threw, its a great wind blocker and lasts easy untill the end of the season.

5/21/2007 4:45:47 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

Here's a shot of the great wall of Nesbit with out the plastic on it.http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=20656I think this is the one that Erin was looking for. I have used the plastic wrap used to wrap shipping pallets before. just drive some pipes in the ground and wrap it around them.

5/21/2007 5:57:48 AM

[email protected]

Biz

The black stuff is "silt fencing". $20 for 100' at The Home Depot last time I bought it.

Check my diary. We're in an open windy spot this year. You'll see that we're using silt fencing to help break the wind.

5/21/2007 7:20:11 AM

Eugene, OR

I live in a pretty high wind area (on a hill) and silt fence helps but it's not enough here. The best way to manage wind is not to use a solid barrier. You need to break the wind up into smaller currents rather than trying to block it all. Otherwise, it will just hit your solid wall and go up and over it and back down to the ground.

I personally use an 8' high windbreak made from 70% shade cloth and 10' 4x4's buried 2 feet in the ground. Concrete in the holes would help but since I'm only renting, it wasn't an option. A couple of pics of my setup can be seen here: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=63207
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=23786
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=24062

Where I get all my shade cloth: http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/products.asp?dept=1117

Best of luck. I know how much of a pain wind can be to deal with!

5/21/2007 10:41:16 AM

Wi

IMO snow fence is the best. Silt fence is too short and catches too much wind. Snow fence is also taller. The downfall of snow fence is long term durability.

5/21/2007 11:58:40 AM

Georgia

I used Steves method and it seems to work good and also lets sun through. Its called shrink wrap and its fairly cheap.

5/21/2007 12:45:18 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I've been using the orange snow fencing for 3 years now and it works great. I attach it to the posts with zip ties and at the end of the season I just unattach it and roll it up for storage until the next season. After three years it still looks new....Only problem is the wife really hates it. Personally I think it really adds to the yard decor!!! lol

5/21/2007 4:16:53 PM

Pinedale, WY

How much wind does snow fence actually stop?

5/21/2007 4:44:47 PM

Wi

I believe snow fence slows wind about 50%. It does keep the wind from swirling unlike silt fence.

Don't confuse snow fence with construction fence. Construction fence is very open and will block very little wind.

5/21/2007 4:49:46 PM

Minnesota

Sweet corn is my answer for the wind.. Started with Silt Fence but also planted 3 rows of sweet corn that provides excellent wind protection from Mid July on...Took all the wind off the fence once they got tall enough. Planted along the West and North Sides as this is our predominant summer winds. Silt Fence handled spring winds from the S/SE
This year I went with 5 rows, Only because the sweetcorn was so tasty!!!!

5/21/2007 5:14:57 PM

Pinedale, WY

Where do you get snow fence?

5/21/2007 5:35:56 PM

Wi

Menards, Home Depot, etc...

5/21/2007 5:56:35 PM

Last year I used just pallets on the plants in the garden supported with t-stakes,,,silt fence in the field keeping it close to the plants and moving as they grew. When they were bigger I had it dividing the plants as well,,seemed to work fine. Pics in my '06 diary,,Keeping up with vine maintenance is important once they root all is well for the most part.

5/21/2007 6:15:34 PM

Denver, CO

I use the snow fence here in Colorado, and it works great. It blocks out about 80% of the wind, and I stake my main vine down to the ground at 12" intervals for added stability and protection. ( Note however, I am not out in an open field, I am in a backyard of a house.)

5/21/2007 9:34:20 PM

Central Oklahoma ( [email protected])

Hey Biz, In this pic you can see what I am using. I am using the black silt fence on the bottom and some 6' by 40' shade cloth for my wind break. Last yr. I just used the silt fence but the wind here in Oklahoma is always blowing storm or no storm so it did not work as good as I would have hoped. This set up looks promising the wind can still come through the shade cloth so, the plants still get some breeze. I have a couple more pics if you would like to see them email me.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=63139

Jon N.

5/22/2007 10:46:52 PM

Littleton, Colo

Thank you all !! Appreciate it very much !!! The Biz

5/23/2007 4:24:29 PM