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Mass

3 staples in a stake rips off while installing, wind shreaded it to pieces, stakes are to far apart.. Im going to make my own next time. Weed barrier or typar. Use grommeted fasteners and put stakes every five feet. I have had these products on the outside of my patch, this being the second season through the winter also. I had put silt fence around it the year before and there was nothing left after the winder but a few strands. I dont know why I bought it again. Quick fix I thought, with so many plants. Now I have to spend more time adding more stakes and spring clamps to keep it together. Lesson learned.

6/3/2011 6:49:40 PM

Muddy Waters

all products are being cheapen welcome to the new America!!

6/3/2011 6:53:00 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Afteri put it up I reenforce on opposite side with snow stakes. The every other side placement helps with wind damage

6/3/2011 7:10:06 PM

canal winchester ohio

When I've used it I've always weaved it on opposite sides of the stakes as well. Helps a little more.

6/3/2011 7:15:02 PM

Joliet, IL

There is cheap 2' silt fence sold at home depot which is junk. Go to a construction supply store. A real one...Google one in you area. Get the 3' or 42" silt fence. I have the 3' one that is spaced 10' between stakes that needs strategically placed 5' sections of rebar to take up slack in pentagons that become octogons and etc as the plant grows. But the best silt fence us the 42" high quality fence with 6' spacing between quality posts that do not splinter and fall apart after 2 whacks from the sledge. A staple gun can always be used to help better secure fabric to stakes.

6/3/2011 7:40:15 PM

Joliet, IL

Both can be seen in my recent diary pics. Next year I will get another roll if the 42".

6/3/2011 7:41:37 PM

Upa Creek, MO

The only plus I have found of being stuck planting up against some woods with very thick underbrush is protetion from the wind.

6/3/2011 8:15:35 PM

Ri

Pete try taking a couple of turns around the stake before driving it in the ground. Just got to make sure the fabric wraps evenly. This helps with the tears and tightens the fabric. Peter

6/3/2011 8:30:58 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

I had the same issue and will do what Peter says next year.

6/3/2011 9:00:22 PM

Mass

thanks for the responces. It was construction grade 3ft high. I know it is meant to be burried for its real purpose which i suppose would help tremendously. But with moving it as plant grows, too much work. I put it up as traffic control for xmas season to keep people off patch the first year. THere was nothing left come spring, just 16th inch strands here and there!! Yes more staples would help, and more stakes, but still feel a 3ft or 4ft roll of good weed barrier is far superior. I fastened it with furing strips on my 4*4 posts and put stakes on both sides in between, It has held up well and been out year round.
picts of that in my Diary (Sweet1) thanks Pete.

6/3/2011 9:20:29 PM

Mass

Ok Shazzy, checked out the picts.. nice, but it makes me realize we all have different senarios. you have a 6ft high wooden fence around your patch or some of it in a residential neighborhood, that has to help a lot. I'm out in the middle of acres of farm land with little protection. I know the 3 silt fences in my main patch with the outer barrier around them fared much better than the ones on the outside did. So every little bit of something, trees, buildings, fences, all helps. but what works for some might not work for others I guess. I also have the hail netting on top of the main patch which has to help some.
Pete

6/3/2011 9:41:23 PM

Joliet, IL

So true is that Pete. I am buffered nicely yet I still use the silt fences because the I 80 corridor in joliet is microburst central with downbursting winds and backwards north east winds off of pounding straightline storms. If I grew in a open terrritory I would be using srong anchoring posts like stop sign posts and go 4' at least encompassing plants. Very good point. Maybe a combination of the 2. Some larger breaks and smaller 3' tighter to the plant.

6/3/2011 11:03:14 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Shaz & s1, i use the good stuff (nice that is Orange) from the local construction supply store...it already has reinforcement on the backside of the wooden post's!!! I also put a t-post (metal) along side of each wooden post and tie strap the tpost to the wooden post that comes w/the silt fence!!! I also carry a H/D stapler w/ me when putting up silt fencing!!! Peace, Wayne

6/4/2011 12:57:36 AM

Muddy Waters

I pound 2x2s in ground & use doors for wind break or plastic(visqueen) screwed to 2x2 with wood lathe I pity the storm LT.Dan!Wood is free if your a garbage picker like me!!

6/4/2011 7:22:58 AM

Middle TN

I ripped the stakes off my silt fence, they were useless. I made my own fence posts with rebar and pvc pipe. Its easily moved. I zip tie the silt fence material to the pvc and clip it in some places too. I can slide the material down the posts when its not windy to give the plants better air flow. Its like a collapsable fence lol Its not a perfect set up but it works well for me in a small garden :)

6/4/2011 7:42:05 AM

Weedville,pa

The 3' Lowe's version let me down BIG TIME this past Tuesday...gotta come up with a better solution, good ideas guys!

6/4/2011 8:04:24 AM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

You can't stop the wind , use a product that allows some of the wind to pass through . It will stand up better and still potect the plants .

6/4/2011 9:27:50 AM

Joliet, IL

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=132591



This is a post from my buddy tyson naylor's diary from 2010 that is a combo package of the taller wind break with some holes in it like bill mentioned and 3' silt fences and or plastic home made wind breaks tighter to the plants. If you click the follow up post you can see he double rowed corn outside these larger wind breaks for a third line of defense. He is also out in the wide open.

6/4/2011 12:35:44 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Shazzy, the photo from yer link, from tyson makes a lot of sense!!! Slow it down, then slow it down some more!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

6/5/2011 3:07:02 AM

Las Cruces NM

I think the message is don't use silt fence for wind protection, period! I used several layers of the 3' silt fence (tallest I could find) on primary and backup plantings this year ... and that is why I had a third planting! We get daily 20-50MPH spring winds here (just part of our weather). One layer of anykind of wind fence isn't enough for strong winds, but that silt fence of any size, and modified as you must, wont do.

We have 5-6ft stone walls around properties here (I understand why you don't find fences here!). 6' Stone wall is my first protection but not enough. You still need a series of protection and fairly close to plants. Wind jumps any fences you use, trick is reduce it as much as possible by layers. I scraped silt fence, went with 4' high, 2-4' apart and worked for my third planting (sadly, not what I wanted to grow so I'll be putting my efforts into the LGs).

I realize it is extreamly harsh growing conditions here, and I need far more protection then most ... and different from most. Silt fences may work for some of you, but it is simply worthless for winds strong enough to damage plants.

6/5/2011 12:10:46 PM

Orland Park, Illinois

Hello everyone I work for a company thats sells a alternative product called "Siltworm". Its a Nylon bag filled with wood fibers which has been tested and use dby many companies. We have not had any problems with it. If you have any interest in checking it out Schilling Lumber located in St. John Indiana and Mokena Illonis stock it as well as Von Tobel Lumber in Valparaiso. It has been approved for use in Lake County, IN as well as many other villages. The company is Calumet Pallet Co. Inc in Hammond and you can ask for Tom 219-932-4550 or [email protected]

7/24/2011 9:06:21 PM