Putting in a fruit cage
- Thread starter British Red
- Start date
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Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
I complain when there are eight or nine of them…and the cushiedoos are even less in numbers. There's one pair just now that occasionally visits the bird feeder, but that's it.
200 of them would guzzle the bushes bare in no time.
Have you thought of keeping a hawk ?
M
Oh don't tempt me. We flew hawks once and the guy offered to take us hunting with a pair of Harris Hawks. One to flush and one to stoop. Now that's a sport I'd like to get into
Wouldn't go amiss to let the hens forage in there occasionally…..they'll do a good job on insect pests, etc.,
Though I suppose it depends on what you're going to use under the fruit bushes.
M
Though I suppose it depends on what you're going to use under the fruit bushes.
M
A short update today, but spent a few hours with a spirit level, mark 1 eyeball and postcrete truing up, levelling and setting the bases. We also added a door if you look at the far end.
Cage Concreted In by British Red, on Flickr
Had to race to beat the rain. Have had snow, sleet, hail and rain so far on this project. I wonder whats next?
Cage Concreted In by British Red, on FlickrHad to race to beat the rain. Have had snow, sleet, hail and rain so far on this project. I wonder whats next?
We'll hope for sunshine 
It's looking very trim.
I find it astonishing how quickly some folks land dries out; mine's literally inches deep in mud and rain just now.
M
It's looking very trim.
I find it astonishing how quickly some folks land dries out; mine's literally inches deep in mud and rain just now.
M
The secret is in the socking great field drain that we put in all around the field
Field Drain 5 by British Red, on Flickr
Field Drain 5 by British Red, on Flickr
We tried that; the clay clogs them up 
We've redone one three times, and it's not draining well again. I'm tempted to open it right out into a ditch and make it look like a burn
M
We've redone one three times, and it's not draining well again. I'm tempted to open it right out into a ditch and make it look like a burn M
It's in stones. The fabric clogs up with clay in no time (so does the stuff I put under the chips )
The clay is beautiful stuff, if you want to make pottery, or bricks.
M
)The clay is beautiful stuff, if you want to make pottery, or bricks.
M
It manages a year or so before it starts to clog up, by three years it's a total loss
Sorry Hugh, we've rather taken your fruit cages thread OT
M
Sorry Hugh, we've rather taken your fruit cages thread OT
M
I like thread drift
I did install the reenforcing struts and foot plates but didn't bother with photos.....so back to field drains
I did install the reenforcing struts and foot plates but didn't bother with photos.....so back to field drains
You mentioned before that you had problems with wind and plants like sweetcorn; how do things like these cages stand up to gusty weather ? I was thinking more of when the plants are full of leaf and the cage and contents must become something of a windblock.
M
M
I do have some fear! But I have added concrete footings, bolt down foot plates and reinforcing struts. More important it has a ten year structural guarantee
A little more progress
Footplates have been lowered and locked
Foot Plate by British Red, on Flickr
Each upright has been braced
Corner Bracing by British Red, on Flickr
The marker pegs and strings came out again to show where each row of fruit canes will go, and where each post is needed
String Markers by British Red, on Flickr
I depth marked nine 3x3 tanalised fence posts
Depth Marked Posts by British Red, on Flickr
and dragged out the drain spade and post hole diggers. These are on my "must have" tool list for self sufficiency
Post Hole Digger and Drain Spade by British Red, on Flickr
Dug a 2 foot deep, narrow hole for each post (and checked it with a depth marked stick)
Depth Check by British Red, on Flickr
Half filled each hole with water
Hole Marked and Water by British Red, on Flickr
Bunged in a post
Mix in whole by British Red, on Flickr
20kg of quick setting concrete
Postcrete by British Red, on Flickr
and got it level
Spirit Level by British Red, on Flickr
Started to lose the light so this is as far as I got
Posts Set by British Red, on Flickr
I needed to get all the concreting done to give it a chance to go off before the next rain band (sigh).
Next job is to drill the posts, and string wire, but need to fit that around collecting chooks
Footplates have been lowered and locked
Foot Plate by British Red, on FlickrEach upright has been braced
Corner Bracing by British Red, on FlickrThe marker pegs and strings came out again to show where each row of fruit canes will go, and where each post is needed
String Markers by British Red, on FlickrI depth marked nine 3x3 tanalised fence posts
Depth Marked Posts by British Red, on Flickrand dragged out the drain spade and post hole diggers. These are on my "must have" tool list for self sufficiency
Post Hole Digger and Drain Spade by British Red, on FlickrDug a 2 foot deep, narrow hole for each post (and checked it with a depth marked stick)
Depth Check by British Red, on FlickrHalf filled each hole with water
Hole Marked and Water by British Red, on FlickrBunged in a post
Mix in whole by British Red, on Flickr20kg of quick setting concrete
Postcrete by British Red, on Flickrand got it level
Spirit Level by British Red, on FlickrStarted to lose the light so this is as far as I got
Posts Set by British Red, on FlickrI needed to get all the concreting done to give it a chance to go off before the next rain band (sigh).
Next job is to drill the posts, and string wire, but need to fit that around collecting chooks
Some more progress
Put in eye bolts on the end of each row of posts at 1', 3' and 5' height
Eye Bolt by British Red, on Flickr
I chose to run 2mm galvanised wire. The RHS calls for thicker but I can pull an eight foot fence post out of the ground when its got 50 pounds of concrete on it with 2mm, so its man enough in my book. I also broke out the wire tensioners and fencing pliers. You can get away without wire tensioners on this job, but you might need two of you.
Wire Strainers by British Red, on Flickr
The wire tensioners let me pull the wire tight and have two hands free to tie off to the second eye bolt
Straining Wire by British Red, on Flickr
Any slack in the wire can be removed by winding the eye bolt through the post. But do all three wires together and go gentle - you really can break a post or pull it up!
Tensioning Wire by British Red, on Flickr
At the end I had three runs of wire....
Three Sets of cane wires by British Red, on Flickr
The next day I added 6" gravel boards all around as I intend to put a thick wood chip mulch in to hold water and suppress weeds.
Gravel Boards by British Red, on Flickr
Yesterday we planted a dozen early raspberries (Glen Moy) a dozen Mid season (Glen Ample) and a dozen late (Joan J).
Raspeberries by British Red, on Flickr
We also added eight primocane blackberries (Reuben). These grow on upright canes like Blackberries and can be cut to the ground in February as they fruit on current years growth
Blackberries by British Red, on Flickr
Just waiting on my tree surgeon buddy for the wood chip now
Red
Put in eye bolts on the end of each row of posts at 1', 3' and 5' height
Eye Bolt by British Red, on FlickrI chose to run 2mm galvanised wire. The RHS calls for thicker but I can pull an eight foot fence post out of the ground when its got 50 pounds of concrete on it with 2mm, so its man enough in my book. I also broke out the wire tensioners and fencing pliers. You can get away without wire tensioners on this job, but you might need two of you.
Wire Strainers by British Red, on FlickrThe wire tensioners let me pull the wire tight and have two hands free to tie off to the second eye bolt
Straining Wire by British Red, on FlickrAny slack in the wire can be removed by winding the eye bolt through the post. But do all three wires together and go gentle - you really can break a post or pull it up!
Tensioning Wire by British Red, on FlickrAt the end I had three runs of wire....
Three Sets of cane wires by British Red, on FlickrThe next day I added 6" gravel boards all around as I intend to put a thick wood chip mulch in to hold water and suppress weeds.
Gravel Boards by British Red, on FlickrYesterday we planted a dozen early raspberries (Glen Moy) a dozen Mid season (Glen Ample) and a dozen late (Joan J).
Raspeberries by British Red, on FlickrWe also added eight primocane blackberries (Reuben). These grow on upright canes like Blackberries and can be cut to the ground in February as they fruit on current years growth
Blackberries by British Red, on FlickrJust waiting on my tree surgeon buddy for the wood chip now
Red
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