How to Make Hoops for Raised Beds (4 Ways)

Hoops in your raised beds can help make gardening success easier. Gardener Scott shows how to make four different types of hoops using four different materials. From low hoops to high hoops, your plants can be protected. Garden hoops will support row cover fabric, shade cloth, hail cloth, plastic, and bird netting. Watch to see how to make hoops that are only 16 inches above the soil and hoops that are more than four feet high using poly tubing, PVC pipe, metal conduit, and cattle panels. (Video #98)

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[ladyinky]

I have used dollar tree hula hoops.
Just cut them and remove any noise maker beads. I also took the decorative cover off, then I got pool noodles (also from the
dollar tree) and slipped the pool noodles on the hula hoops.
Then I took some iron concrete reinforcement rods and drove them into the soil next to the inside edge of the bed. The hula hoops slip onto the rods.
You can use short rods for low hoops or longer rods for taller hoops.
I felt like the pool noodles helped keep the plastic cover tighter and in place and didn’t burn through the plastic in the sun.
I have used the hoops for 3 years so far.

[swedishauto]

Easy listening, good voice and volume control. No unecessary flare or self promotion. Great simple cages shared with your fellow gardeners. Amazing. Thank you for this video, it inspired me to make my own.

[featheramericangoodeagle]

About the cattle panels:

Bring your cutting tool to the store. After you purchase your cattle panel you can cut it (out in the parking lot) before you load it into the bed of the Dodge. That is what I am doing.

[pwoudenberg]

regarding PVC... you can make it last almost forever if you put a coat of paint on it. The UV is what deteriorates it and a coat of paint will take care of that.

[robertshorthill]

I work at a farm/ ranch supply outlet. A cattle panel measures about 50". A hog panel is 34". The length is 16 feet. Easily cut with bolt cutters. The price should be around 22 bucks each. Ask if there are damaged panels that can be had for less. Our store always has several damaged panels waiting to find a good home in a garden bed. They will usually let you pick through the defective selection as they are rejected by ranchers. Cheers, good people. Bob

[Sagarclips]

I was going to buy greenhouse for $3000 but now plan is cancelled. You just saved me at least $2000. Thank you so much. Love from Australia.

[sannunaveen]

Never seen such a detailed explanation ever for a garden hoop... with a demo as well!

[Daniel-nfpp]

Considering row covers for the eggplants in the spring here in Denver. Enjoyed your presentation. No dog. No music. Only content. To the point. Thanks.

[TawdryTempest]

Excellent video: no filler, tons of info clearly presented, options. A+

[jlevan]

Last fall, I built a hoop house that covered both of my 4 x 8 raised gardens and the 3-foot walkway between. I connected two 10-foot, 3/4 inch PVC tubes with a t-connector using a kind of PVC glue designed for that. I made three of these, set them down over rebar, and stabilized it with furring strips on both sides. It worked, but here's what you should not do... Don't glue them as I did! It creates a garage storage problem. Also, while I liked the roominess of the hoop house, it was hard to cover with the plastic, which didn't always hold up well under snow. My errors admitted, the size of my hoop house did allow me to put a huge compost pile inside, and I was able to plant orphaned bargain perennials from my local garden center inside that were otherwise no longer sellable. They regained their vigor over the winter and I planted them all this spring. Plus, it gave me a reason to muck around in the garden in January. Fun, eh?

[pjpnres]

Thanks for teaching me how to easily protect my plants from insects and some critters!

[bexmac]

I do this on a smaller scale using rolled copper pipe and copper mesh (lacquered to maintain original color) to support snow/snap peas cedar patio planter. Obviously not the most cost effective option but it works great and I’m obsessed with the look! It’s kinda like “garden art” or adult Legos. Plus, it seems to deter the slugs and snails 🐌

[johndeveney]

You can also buy grey pvc (meant for outdoor electrical applications) it doesn't de-laminate as quickly as regular plumbing pvc!

[gardensandmore]

To continue sharing - I do realize a lot of DIY builders will put their wood support strips on the outside of their small to slightly larger PVC hoop house, or raised bed cover using PVC pipe, but I want to recommend attaching the wood strips on the inside to reduce friction wear on the sheet plastic cover, or other coverings. If you are using the wood strips to attach the sheeting/covering, then outside of the hoops might work better, unless you want to place the wood strips inside and cut more wood strips to match the thickness of the PVC pipe for a tight as a glove fit. Lumps, or bumps in the framing tends to cause localized friction spots that end up reducing the serviceable lifespan of the sheeting, so I tend to want to not have any lumps, or bumps in the design of the hoop framing. It is also why I will use any sort of UV resistant strapping for the ribs/framing that reduces friction wear during windy days. UV resistant strapping is also used on the outside of the plastic covering to keep it from lifting during windy days since reducing how much it can move helps to reduce friction wear and damage.

[kenspiller]

I love your videos! Thanks for your dedication! Tip: I took my bolt cutters and a tape measure to my local farm store and just cut up five cattle panels to length in the parking lot. Fit right in the bed of my truck and noone gave me any hassles.

[FranLu-qsxv]

What a great teacher from a certified teacher. I am not a diy person, but I feel confident to do all these. Wow. Thank you!

[leah]

So incredibly helpful. Getting ready to make a hoop house with the PVC pipe. And you made it look like something I can accomplish easily by myself. Double bonus.

[anniegaddis]

I found something called a construction ladder at Home Depot that cement guys use and they make great hoops!

[bucketfullofturtles]

For vine tomatoes, you can drop twine from the tops of the hoops and hang grow them

[bernicespencer]

Gardener Scott! Just found your videos, Love them! You are teaching the book I meant to write 45 years ago! You have even inspired my husband to get involved after all these decades. Excellent presentations! Love your common sense. Thank You !