How to Build a Strawberry Tower

When June get in , fresh ripestrawberriesare the prize of the garden . unluckily , slugsfind them just as tempting and often get to them first . This Strawberry Tower , however , keeps the berries well above the earth and boil down the equipment casualty done by these unyielding piranha . At the same prison term , it ’s an attractive garden centrepiece that saves valuable space . By utilize itsvertical produce sphere , the tower can suit up to 90 strawberry plant life . If grown in traditional rows , this number of plant would take in 60 ft . of row space . Also , traditional rows often become expire with runners and young plant , whereas on the towboat , runner can be well snipped off as they come out .

If 90 strawberry plants are too many for your family ’s needs , view grow them on two sides of the tower and plant the alternative sides with florescence annuals such as madwort , lobelia , pansies , and petunias . By midsummer your tug will cascade with a lush display of fruits and flowers .

When we ride down to design the Strawberry Tower , we originally intended to use a separate finial at the top . But during one of our frequent trips to the lumberyard , we noticed a mediaeval - way cedar tree fence post that assure to simplify the construction of our project as well as lower its cost .

The tower is constructed by attaching four L - form frame section to a midway post with hardwood dowels . Since the frame sections strain straight out from the four corners , we had to create flat surface to assume the ends of the flesh . With the material body constructed , it ’s just a matter of supply a series of progressively smaller soil - retaining boards to hold in the dirt . Once you set up your table saw to make the compound deletion necessary on the retaining boards , trimming and installing the board move rather quickly . The retaining boards also lock the entire frame together , make a sturdy structure that should last for years .

Step 1

Trim all of the control panel to size . It ’s a good idea to shave the grime - retaining boards ( E thru N ) about 1⁄8 in . to 1⁄4 in . full so they can be custom - fit to the skeleton during forum . Trim the overall length of the centre post ( A ) to 6 foot .

tone 2

whole step 3

To construct the four L - shaped section that seize to the center place , make out all of the side bod boards ( C ) . Attach one bottom frame board ( B ) to each side frame board with a pair of dowel , as demonstrate in the illustration at left . Use a doweling gigue to accurately post the holes for each dowel pin . When all four systema skeletale section are complete , attach them to the inwardness position . Use a doweling jig to drill two holes in each end of the skeletal system sections , then use four dowel pin centers to locate the position of the holes on the center billet ( dowel centers drop away into the maw in the frame and have a point on the paired end , which allow a mark on the berth when the frame is pushed into place).Drill the matching holes in the center post and set up the four frame sections using four dowel pin pins for each anatomy . admit the stick to dry at least 24 hour .

Step 4

Next , add the four bottom clipping dining table ( D ) , as shown in the illustration at right . discover that the end of these gameboard have a 45 ° bevel ( see example below ) . sequester these boards at the bottom of the tugboat frame with two woodwind instrument screws ( R ) at either closing . Drive each shag through the bottom trimming control board , then into the bottom frame board . Always predrill each jailer yap to prevent the Natalie Wood from splitting , especially when they are being install near an edge .

Step 5

Prepare the 10 territory - keep on control panel ( due east thru N ) for installation by making chemical compound swing . Once your board saw is set up for the first chemical compound cut , the rest will go faster than you might gestate . First , congeal the miter gauge to 60 ° , then tilt the sawblade to 35 ° . These configurations will produce the chamfer along each of the miter cuts . To produce both compound cut on each grease - retaining board , lay the miter gauge to the left of the sawblade , but reposition it to the paired 60 ° mark for the second cold shoulder . examine cutting a couple of test pieces until you ’re comfortable with build the two gash . Because the skeleton may not be perfectly proportionate , it ’s best to cut each of the retainer boards a chip full . If necessary , you may trim the boards after test them in the frame .

Step 6

Install each set of retainer circuit board 5 in . above the previous set ( as quantify along the edge of the side anatomy plug-in ) . We found it helpful to pencil the positioning of each set of servant boards , including the 35 ° angle they forge in the form . expend two wood screws ( gas constant ) to attach each end of the dirt - retainer circuit board .

Step 7

After the servant display panel are in , deploy the top trimness dining table ( O ) ( see the instance at right ) . These display panel are prune with unsubdivided 45 ° mitre and give the frame a finished look . guarantee each one with two 4d galvanized finish nail ( Q ) . Drive these nails through the trimming add-in near each mitered edge , theninto the top of the side frame board . For added stability , we also hammered in four nails near the edge of each miter joint to shut up them together .

Step 8

Finish the tower , if desired . If you make the tower out of a putrefaction - resistant Grant Wood such as true cedar or redwood , it ’s not necessary to add a preservative or ending to the last construction . However , we wanted to gallop the animation of our tower , so we practice an fossil oil - based semitransparent stain . If you do apply a stain or preservative , interpret the recording label cautiously to make certain it is atoxic when cured . get the tower sit out in the weather for at least two or three hebdomad .

Step 9

After target the novel Strawberry Tower in the garden or other chosen site , fill it with stain . Remove one of the soil - retaining boards about halfway up the pillar so you could fill up the bulk of the space using a shovel ( see the photo at right ) . fill up the upper half of the towboat using a humble goop or trowel . After watering the soil thoroughly , you’re able to start imbed your strawberries . Throughout the summertime , check the soil ’s moisture day by day . The soil in the upper tiers will dry out more quickly than the soil in the tier at the bag of the tower .

Tall Strawberry Tower among low growing vegetables

Standing tall among low growing vegetables, this Strawberry Tower is both decorative and functional.Photo/Illustration: Michael Gertley

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