Cattle Panel Arbors

purple and autumn clematis grow over these two cattle panel arbors going into my norther apiary. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Cattle Panel Arbors

If you live in a rural farming part of the country, you may have seen these as you drive by. They’re common at least where I live in mid-Missouri, sometimes welcoming visitors to a property or as an addition to a garden area. These are cattle panel arbors, an inexpensive way to have garden arches for climbing plants such as beans, roses and my favorite, cucumbers.

There are two possible sizes. The cattle panel size is 50 inches x 16 feet, and hog panels, which are more narrow at 34 inches by 16 feet. Getting them home may be a challenge unless you have someone with a truck who can lend a hand.

Also, trying to wrangle either one can feel like wrestling an octopus so something you can add to your bragging rights list!

How to Install Cattle Panel Arbors

You will need:

• Cattle panel (16-foot is common)

• T-posts or U-posts (4–6 feet tall, at least 2, preferably 4 for extra stability)

• T-post driver or hammer

• Zip ties or U-bolts

• Measuring tape

• Helper (recommended for bending the panel but not required)

Steps to Install:

• Choose a Location

  • Pick a spot where you want the arbor, ensuring enough space for plant growth and walking clearance underneath.

  • If you have raised beds, you can use the raised beds to anchor the cattle panels on either side.

• Measure and Mark Placement

  • Determine the width of your arbor (typically 3–6 feet).

  • Mark where the T-posts will go on both sides of the arbor.

• Install T-Posts or U-Posts

  • Using a T-post driver, pound posts into the ground about 1–2 feet deep for stability.

  • Place posts 2–4 feet apart (adjust depending on the arch width).

• Position the Cattle Panel

  • Lay the panel flat on the ground.

  • With a helper, lift one end and start bending the panel into an arch shape. Don’t be fooled, this is harder than it sounds. Make sure you both have a firm grip and won’t let go or the other one could end up catapulting over the panel.

  • If you don’t have a helper, use a thick rope tied to one end. Thread it through the other end and slowly pull the rope until the panel is bent to the width you need. Tie the rope off before moving the panel.

• Attach the Panel to the Posts

  • Secure one side of the panel to the posts using zip ties, U-bolts, or wire.

  • Ensure the panel is evenly curved before securing the other side.

  • Adjust for stability, tightening connections as needed.

• Check Stability

  • Wiggle the structure slightly to ensure it’s firm.

  • Add additional ties or posts if necessary.

• Optional: Anchor the Base

  • Use landscape stakes at the bottom to prevent shifting in strong winds.

  • Treating the Metal

    • To cut down on rust, spray the panel with Rustoleum spray paint. I’ve sprayed before installing and afterwards; not sure it makes much difference.

    • I also tried both gray and black. I prefer how black disappears in the landscape.

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  Charlotte

Ten Reasons to Garden

My garden in winter, not very inspiring to get gardening. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Ten Reasons to Garden

It’s middle of winter and a good time to start planning my 2025 garden. Here are ten reasons why we all should garden:

1. Improves Physical Fitness

Gardening involves activities like digging, planting, weeding, and watering, which provide a full-body workout. It's a low-impact exercise that helps improve strength, flexibility, and endurance.

2. Boosts Mental Well-being

Tending to plants has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Being in nature and engaging with soil can have calming effects.

3. Enhances Creativity

Designing a garden layout, selecting plants, and creating vibrant arrangements stimulate creativity. It’s a rewarding outlet for artistic expression.

4. Promotes Better Nutrition

Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs ensures access to fresh, organic produce, inspiring healthier eating habits and fostering a deeper connection to food.

5. Encourages Mindfulness

Gardening encourages you to live in the moment, focusing on the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. It’s a perfect way to practice mindfulness and meditation.

6. Improves Air Quality

Indoor or outdoor plants help purify the air by absorbing toxins and releasing oxygen, making your environment healthier to live in.

7. Strengthens the Immune System

Exposure to soil bacteria while gardening has been linked to improved immune system function. Plus, spending time outdoors boosts vitamin D levels.

8. Builds Patience and Resilience

Gardening teaches you to embrace the process and be patient as plants grow and thrive. Overcoming challenges like pests or weather strengthens your problem-solving skills and resilience.

9. Fosters Community and Connection

Joining gardening groups or sharing your harvest with neighbors can build social connections and a sense of belonging, which are essential for mental health.

10. Creates a Sense of Accomplishment

Watching your plants grow and flourish brings a profound sense of achievement and pride, boosting self-esteem and happiness.

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Charlotte

Winter Storm Benefits

january 2025 kicked of with two winter storms, a combination of ice and snow. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Winter Storm Benefits

It’s not easy to think of winter storms as having benefits. When it comes to our gardens, though, there are many positive things that happen courtesy of winter storms.

1.Soil Moisture

Snowfall acts as a natural reservoir, slowly releasing moisture into the soil as it melts. This prevents sudden runoff and allows plants and trees to absorb water more efficiently, replenishing groundwater reserves.

2. Insulation for Plants

A thick layer of snow acts as an insulating blanket, protecting plants and roots from extreme cold temperatures. This layer prevents soil from freezing too deeply, safeguarding dormant plants and microorganisms.

3. Natural Pest Control

Cold temperatures during winter storms can reduce populations of pests, such as insects and larvae, that might otherwise damage plants in the warmer months.

4. Replenishment of Ponds

Melting snow and ice contribute to rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, providing essential water resources for ecosystems, agriculture, and human consumption during the dry seasons.

5. Improved Soil Structure

The freezing and thawing cycles associated with ice and snow help break up compacted soil, improving its structure and making it easier to work in the spring. This enhances soil aeration and drainage.

6. Nutrient Deposition

Snow can capture atmospheric nitrogen and other nutrients, depositing them into the soil as it melts. This acts as a natural fertilizer, boosting soil fertility for the growing season.

7. Wildlife Benefits

Snow provides shelter for certain wildlife, such as small mammals, by creating subnivean zones (spaces under the snow) that offer warmth and protection from predators. It also provides water when it melts, benefiting both plants and animals.

8. Disease Suppression

Many plant pathogens struggle to survive prolonged freezing temperatures, which can help reduce the spread of diseases in crops and gardens during the growing season.

9. Scenic Beauty and Psychological Benefits

The serene beauty of a snowy landscape can have positive psychological effects, offering a sense of calm and renewal. This aesthetic appeal often encourages outdoor activities, promoting physical health and well-being.

10. Recharge of Ecosystems

Winter storms reset ecosystems by pruning weak vegetation through ice accumulation and heavy snow. This natural process helps forests and landscapes maintain balance and encourages new growth in the spring.

Conclusion

By understanding these benefits, gardeners and nature enthusiasts can better appreciate the role of winter storms in maintaining healthy ecosystems and preparing for a fruitful growing season.

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Charlotte

Winter Sowing

Forecasters are calling for more snow and below 0 Fahrenheit temperatures so good time to get those native seeds winter sown. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Winter Sowing

Winter sowing is a way to start seeds outdoors during winter months, allowing them to naturally germinate when conditions are right in the spring. It’s also an excellent way to give seeds that need cold exposure that cold treatment they need to germinate, such as purple coneflowers and black-eyed susans, both excellent pollinator plants.

Here's a guide on how to winter sow in repurposed milk jugs using Black-Eyed Susan seeds:

What you will need

1. Empty, clean plastic milk jugs or bottles

2. Utility knife or scissors

3. Potting soil

4. Black-eyed susan seeds (or purple coneflower seeds)

5. Spray bottle with water

6. Tape (as in duck tape)

7. Marker

   How to get milk jugs ready

   As you collect milk jugs, wash them thoroughly, allow to dry and store. I kept mine in plastic garbage bags so they didn’t take up a lot of storage room.

   Pierce or cut several drainage holes in the bottom of the bottle first. Use a nail, heated skewer, or the tip of your scissors or knife. Be careful not to puncture your hand.

   Then use a utility knife or scissors to cut the bottles horizontally around the middle, leaving the handle intact on one side. It’s hard to punch holes in the bottom once the milk jug is cut in half. The bottom half will serve as a mini greenhouse.

   Add a layer of potting soil into the bottom section of the bottle, filling it about one-third of the way.

remove lids if you haven’t already, you won’t need them. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Plant black-eyed Susan seeds

I confess, I saved a lot of seeds earlier in the season so I was ready to plant. If you don’t have seeds, check your local home and garden center, most have a supply all year.

Break up black-eyed susan seed heads and sprinkle over the soil surface. I’m always surprised at how many seeds come out of one little flower head. You can lightly press them into the soil but don’t bury them too deeply. These seeds require light to germinate.

Dust the seeds with soil.

Close the top part of the bottle over the bottom, securing it with tape. This creates a miniature greenhouse effect. Remove milk jugs lids; you won’t need them.

Label the container with the plant name and the date of sowing using a marker. I just add an initial so that I know which seeds I planted.

Place milk jugs outdoors

Find a suitable outdoor location that receives partial sun to full sun. An area protected from harsh winds is ideal.

Set the prepared milk jugs on the ground. You can also bury them halfway in the soil to stabilize them.

Check the containers occasionally to ensure the soil remains slightly moist but not waterlogged. If the soil appears dry, spray water over it just to keep it moist.

As the temperatures increase in the spring, the seeds will naturally germinate when conditions are favorable.

Transplanting Seedlings

Once the seedlings have grown a few inches tall and have developed several sets of leaves, they can be carefully transplanted into larger pots or directly into the garden bed. I wait until after the last frost to transplant directly into the garden.

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Charlotte

Envelope Seed Packets

These saved marigold seeds are now ready to be stored until spring. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Envelope Seed Packets

With many of us not needing paper envelopes to mail in bills, why not save them to package saved seeds.

You can use them for other things as well but I usually have more seeds than I have ways to save them.

The return envelopes with the clear window work best so that you can see what seeds are inside.

mark your seed envelopes with at least the year for the seeds, if not the variety. (charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)

Helps also to mark the envelopes with at least the year of the seeds, if not the seed variety. I can identify most seeds but not all so I also add the plant name to the date. Well, I should although I’ve been known to say to myself you’ll recognize these seeds, then don’t.

Store the seeds in a dry place. I keep baskets around the house where I can keep all of my seed packets together. You can pick up baskets at thrift stores.

For more gardening, beekeeping, cooking and easy home decor tips, subscribe to Garden Notes.

Charlotte