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I have an elevated veggie garden in our backyard and I want to be able to erect shade cloth to shield my veggies from the brutal summer sun. If you look at the pic, the shade cloth can be attached to the fence on the western side quite easily, and to suitable hooks to be installed on the white beam above the grey shade cloth. But I will need to install a pole at the bottom corner next to the drainage grille in order to elevate the north eastern corner of the shade cloth. The shade cloth would only be needed at the height of summer when its really hot so the pole would be removed after the hot weather has finished. I imagine that the pole could be a star picket, but how do I make housing that will fit it - and which will be nearly flush with the ground and which I can put a cap over at times when its not being used. How to go about this?
Hi @ennoh,
It would be a neat solution to create a small concrete foundation to slip some galvanised pipe into. A 50mm PVC pipe cap could be used to cover the hole when not in use. An eye-bolt can be installed on the top of the pipe to connect your shackle for the shade cloth.
If you cover the bottom of the pipe with Gladwrap, it can be used as a mould to form the hole in the foundation. The plastic wrap will ensure the pipe doesn't get stuck in the hole.
I've created a few images below to illustrate.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
I'd recommend making the foundation 300W x 300D x 450mmH. That sounds like a lot, but a shade sail can capture a substantial amount of wind in a storm. The sizable foundation will ensure it doesn't pull out of the ground.
To drill the hole for the eyebolt, use a drill bit of the same diameter or slightly larger than the shank. An 11mm drill bit would be a perfect fit for this eyebolt and its 10mm shank.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Mitchell
