Metal rod for plant supports

[Randy Winkman]

I'm a keen gardener and it's about this time of year certain plants like roses seem to go a bit mad. When I arrived in house I "inherited" 2 rather marvellous 8mm metal rods 2 meters long that are rather brilliant for propping up roses and other tall plants that need some support. The really good thing about them is that the tops of them are bent over a bit like clothes line props. I have looked in every garden centre plus the Hampton Court Flower show and nothing like them is available for sale. I can easily buy 8mm bar/rod but what sort of metal should it be? Surface rust is fine (possibly even a benefit) but they have to be fairly strong but bendable. The strength/bendiness issue is the key thing. Cheers.

[dazwalsh]

Only thing i can think of is access rods what electricians use. Pricey though.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mightyrod-cable-rod-set...

[Andrew_S]

Rebar

[gmasterfunk]

Stainless rebar. Look for glass block wall reinforcement. B and q used to sell it cheap.

Ebay 131714212178

[UncleRic]

Are they 'Shepherds crook' bird feeder poles? They come in various sizes from most large garden centres.

[gred]

I used these people and make all my own plant supports as per the Monty Don clip. The Metal Store deliver nationwide. Mild steel looks best left to rust and then blends into the garden well. https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/black-mil...

[Randy Winkman]

UncleRic said:

Are they 'Shepherds crook' bird feeder poles? They come in various sizes from most large garden centres.

Yipee! You've just solved the mystery. That's what the ones I found in my garden are.

However, 2 metre long ones are quite expensive so .....

gred said:

I used these people and make all my own plant supports as per the Monty Don clip. The Metal Store deliver nationwide. Mild steel looks best left to rust and then blends into the garden well. https://www.themetalstore.co.uk/products/black-mil...

I now remember Monty doing that and will get some mild steel and have a go at making my own. I do want much tighter bends though than the ones he did. But there's no harm in giving I a go.

Cheers everyone. PH comes up trumps in no time.

[dickymint]

M10 threaded rod 3metre lengths for about £3 a length - easy to bend.

[dickymint]

These are cheap but only 1370mm ....................




http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/black-painted...

[Jonesy23]

I use a load of stainless rods that used to be bits of TSR-2.

[Randy Winkman]

Jonesy23 said:

I use a load of stainless rods that used to be bits of TSR-2.

Bits of Cold War aircraft? Not sure where I'll get them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAC_TSR-2

dickymint said:

These are cheap but only 1370mm ....................




http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/black-painted...

Yes, a bit short but a great buy so I've ordered them. Cheers.

dickymint said:

M10 threaded rod 3metre lengths for about £3 a length - easy to bend.

Thanks. As well as getting the road pins above I'm going to have a go at making my own too.

[DocJock]

You can make a simple jig with a hefty board and some 150mm screws.

[bigdom]

Randy Winkman said:

I now remember Monty doing that and will get some mild steel and have a go at making my own. I do want much tighter bends though than the ones he did. But there's no harm in giving I a go.

Cheers everyone. PH comes up trumps in no time.

I see you’re Kent based. Plenty of steel suppliers in the county, Parker steel and Steel express to name a couple. I’ve recently picked up some from a local supplier in Hampshire, 10 x 3m lengths of 6mm was less than £20.

[Randy Winkman]

bigdom said:

Randy Winkman said:

I now remember Monty doing that and will get some mild steel and have a go at making my own. I do want much tighter bends though than the ones he did. But there's no harm in giving I a go.

Cheers everyone. PH comes up trumps in no time.

I see you’re Kent based. Plenty of steel suppliers in the county, Parker steel and Steel express to name a couple. I’ve recently picked up some from a local supplier in Hampshire, 10 x 3m lengths of 6mm was less than £20.

Thanks. I'll check them out.

DocJock said:

You can make a simple jig with a hefty board and some 150mm screws.

That's certainly a sensible idea. I want a couple of tightish bends so there's potential both for things to go painfully wrong and for the end result to look somewhat wonky.

[dickymint]

Randy Winkman said:

bigdom said:

Randy Winkman said:

I now remember Monty doing that and will get some mild steel and have a go at making my own. I do want much tighter bends though than the ones he did. But there's no harm in giving I a go.

Cheers everyone. PH comes up trumps in no time.

I see you’re Kent based. Plenty of steel suppliers in the county, Parker steel and Steel express to name a couple. I’ve recently picked up some from a local supplier in Hampshire, 10 x 3m lengths of 6mm was less than £20.

Thanks. I'll check them out.

DocJock said:

You can make a simple jig with a hefty board and some 150mm screws.

That's certainly a sensible idea. I want a couple of tightish bends so there's potential both for things to go painfully wrong and for the end result to look somewhat wonky.

Can't see !50mm screws in a hefty board strong enough to bend stud bar around and 6mm stud bar would definitely be to whippy for 2metre plant supports. I'm using 10mm for been sticks wigwam fashion and it's ok.

[Randy Winkman]

What I have now (which I have now learnt are for hanging bird feeders on) are 8mm and are strong enough. They are only 1.5m though. I'm going to give 8mm a go first because they blend in well with the plants.

[Randy Winkman]

dickymint said:

These are cheap but only 1370mm ....................




http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/black-painted...

Thanks again for a brilliant tip. I got these and they are perfect at a fraction of the cost of anything aimed at gardeners. They are now my top tip for gardening.

[dickymint]

Randy Winkman said:

dickymint said:

These are cheap but only 1370mm ....................




http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/black-painted...

Thanks again for a brilliant tip. I got these and they are perfect at a fraction of the cost of anything aimed at gardeners. They are now my top tip for gardening.

I'm a keen veggie gardener - nearly anything to do with gardening can be sourced elsewhere much cheaper. As an example I needed some large tunnel type cloches with netting so used plastic 15mm plastic water pipe as hoops and some Terram from a builers yard - same loads

[pidsy]

dickymint said:

Randy Winkman said:

dickymint said:

These are cheap but only 1370mm ....................




http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/black-painted...

Thanks again for a brilliant tip. I got these and they are perfect at a fraction of the cost of anything aimed at gardeners. They are now my top tip for gardening.

I'm a keen veggie gardener - nearly anything to do with gardening can be sourced elsewhere much cheaper. As an example I needed some large tunnel type cloches with netting so used plastic 15mm plastic water pipe as hoops and some Terram from a builers yard - same loads

Mild steel road pins.

Cheap as chips from any builders merchant. Used for barrier tape support at outdoor events.

[dickymint]

pidsy said:

Mild steel road pins.

Cheap as chips from any builders merchant. Used for barrier tape support at outdoor events.

Yep mass produced and huge demand hence the price - market them for gardeners and treble the price!