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Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

I am finding it very difficult to find an economical way of constructing some sort of hail protection over my patch.

I know this has been talked about before on where to buy the hail netting, but would a simple deer fencing that is 1/4 inch mesh do the trick, or will the hail rip through that material? Is 1/4 inch to small or too big?

Thanks....Ray

1/10/2010 7:04:47 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Most any successful patch will have sizeable dimensions of X by Y. If the hail netting is not tight and does not have an adequate ridgeline or curvature (like a quonset).....one can find that their netting becomes one big catch-all for a huge weight of accumulating ice pellets !

That's when things come crashing down and ripping, falling right on to the delicate leaves below. Don't be skimpy on the strength of the framework, cabling or grommets that will support the netting system.

Don't necessarily think of mesh openings as being "square", like 1/4". A round hailstone can pass easily through a square opening. There are other patterns of weave that are equally effective. Try looking at www.pakunlimited.com, in Georgia. See if you can find E.07, E.08 or E.13. Phone # in website.

1/10/2010 10:58:16 PM

Ohio

Ray, great topic, I been trying to figure a good, but cheap source of netting and also the best way to install it for years. I heard Doc Liggett has a real cool way he puts up his netting up but not exactly sure what kind of material he uses that he can quickly pull over his patch before a hail storm. Im hoping this year he might have a patch tour or maybe invite me over so I can take a quick peek at his set up.(and I will promise him I wont drink any ,,, well ALL of his beer when Im there..Ha!,, Ill just drink all Joe Gerchy's if he happens to go with me...)

Also, Maybe Joe Gerchy Or Dan Kirts can comment if they read this thread as they are pretty good buddies with Doc and have been to his patch alot through out the years.

Ray, once you do find a good set up and material that you think will work would you please keep me posted when you do throughout the year, and Ill do the same, I have your email.

Thanks
Brooks

1/11/2010 4:06:03 AM

Denver, CO

Two years ago, I used blown insulation batting netting as a cheap substitue at about $35-45 per 400 sq/ft of plant. It has small enough holes, 1/8th is what you need, anything bigger and rice hail will rip your plants to shreds. I purchased a gromuet kit from homedepot for about $15 more.

It took me about 2 hours to fasten groumet and tape edged up with duct tape.

It did work, made it through two minor hail storms.

BUT, it will not last. 1 year or two is the best you are going to get AND its much, much, much more difficult to rig properly.

In the end, if in a very tight pinch, it will work. But you will end up spending 10 times the amount over the long run then you would if you purchased $150 peice of qualtiy netting to start with that will last you 10 years or more.

1/11/2010 7:25:24 PM

Denver, CO

Here is a link to netting I have that is of excellent quality. We had the most sever hail storms you could imagine last year and it held stong. Its lasted me 5 years and I see no reason another 10 is not possible.

About $150 per 400 to 500 sq/ft of plant.

Also, contact Jamie Johnson. He had a suupplier in Italy that was priced at about 1/3rd of this netting and through his research he thought it was of equal quality.

1/11/2010 7:30:28 PM

Denver, CO

http://www.hydro-gardens.com/GSHFlooringhtm.htm#Hail%20Guard

helps if I post the damn link. Sorry.

1/11/2010 7:30:56 PM

Joliet, IL

i have thought about the subject myself at great lengths. the best design will incorporate a combo of ideas from the mechanics of a retractable awning, a garage door track, and a sailing winch for sails. 2 separate equal size pieces need to be grommetted to cable. now think of each of these pieces as one side of a garage roof. when rolled up, each will be secured in place over the center of the entire patch with a support system of your own design. the support system should look similar to a garage framing without so many 2 x 4s and without the roof. outer edge rolling wheeled tracks with a cable and winch crank can be used to roll up the pieces that are attached securely to the top center support. by pulling a sting and unlocking the clothes, the can easily be rolled down the track and then be secured. the gravity from the pitch on each side will help make it easier to unroll by oneself. the pitch will also help make it easier for the hail to delfect over the edges and easier to push the hail over the edges if necessary. a real mechanically inclined person could set this rigging up with 2 garage door openers, a i phone with the capabilites to turn on and off your christmas lights that they already have and make it automated from anywhere in the world. radar shows a hail producer, call a number.

the key to this would be to avoid the netting from getting caught in the rollers. both sides of the roof pieces need to be stretched taught and not get hung up on any of the support system you use.

i know this is not cheap. but there are ideas here that can be used to whatever lengths you want take them. a simple shade cloth needs a strong support sytem no matter what though.

1/11/2010 9:36:45 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Can anyone post links of pics of their setups?

1/11/2010 10:11:08 PM

Joliet, IL

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=23431

1/4 inch plastic coated steel wire ropes with 4 x 4s and earth anchors. aluminet 30 percent shade cloth. posts in center just dug down 2 feet and backfilled with patch dirt. you can remove one if needed that way and hould still be ok.
2 pieces perminantly attached to the outer edge rolled towards the center and connected with grommetts. one person job is 15 minutes to unroll and attach before storm at a very quick pace. 30 minute normally otherwise. one small hail storm it worked. never saw a lot accumulate and test my weak points.

1/11/2010 11:58:35 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

awesome pics, great setups.....I am getting prices now from hydro-gardens

1/12/2010 12:57:58 PM

Denver, CO

Ray, be sure to get a qoute as follows: X x X in deminsions, (whatever you need) edges tapped and groumets every 3 feet.

That will be the most benfical to you overall, and increases life span of the netting greatly. Forgot to mention that earlier.

Also, the flat set up for rigging (see Pumpkin Lisa) is Ok for some areas. I dont know what sort of storms you get. Around here in Coloroad, you have to have a dome look to it or a slanted roof look.

We got 1 foot of marble sized hail on 2 consequtive days last year, in about 10 minutes time. It piled up 3 feet high and more on all sides of my hail netting were it slid off. On a flat set up, the netting would have simply snapped under the hundreds or maybe even thousands of pounds of wieght.

1/12/2010 10:02:33 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

Ghopson....thank you. I asked for just as you described. I have been hit 3 years in a row with hail and need to do something. Thankfully it is not of the magnitude you are seeing in Colorado, but still wiped out my plants. Thanks everyone for the help.

Ray

1/12/2010 10:11:40 PM