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New useful inventions in horticulture allow you to grow a generous harvest, while reducing labor time costs. There is a lot of information for summer residents, however, it also needs a kind of guide that compares manufacturer announcements and consumer reviews. From our article, you will learn what galvanized beds are good for and how to make them yourself.
What is the use of borders for beds
Neat beds in the garden are the price of long and hard work: dig, remove weeds, water, spud, feed. After hours spent in the sun, the joy of the harvest is not so bright. Is it possible to spend less effort and get better results? Yes! A “smart” garden or “warm” beds will greatly simplify care and help increase the degree of productivity.
One of the features of this type of garden is the arrangement of beds in frames. In order to save money, wooden structures are often used, but there are many supporters of metal fences. Properly selected and treated metal will last much longer than wood. However, not everyone can afford this option in the country due to possible material costs.
Frame boxes help keep the shape of the earth filling. In the case of warm beds, they prevent the destruction of the organic layers of the mini-garden filler and the access of small pests to them. Yes, and fenced areas look neater. Also, such borders can serve as a reliable basis for a greenhouse or greenhouse, which are much easier to build on their basis.
Pros and cons of galvanized metal fencing
Wooden curbs seem to many to be safer than metal ones. However, this is not always the case. And galvanized fences do not have sharp edges at all, which makes them safe to use. Any galvanized fence can be further increased in width and length.
Advantages:
- long period of operation: depending on climatic conditions, type of soil and characteristics of the structure itself, the period can be from 20 to 50 years;
- suitable for use outdoors and in greenhouses;
- resistance to corrosion, temperature extremes, precipitation and metal damage;
- protection against rodents, as well as pests and parasites do not start and do not live in the metal;
- suitable for any design, have an unobtrusive pleasant appearance;
- relatively small weight of the structure;
- you can not hide and not shelter for the winter;
- the ability to choose a model with a ready-made mount for the irrigation system, mounts for hoses and arcs for the greenhouse;
- speed and ease of assembly design.
Disadvantages:
- the cost significantly exceeds similar wooden structures or those built from available improvised materials;
- the ability of the metal to heat up: special protective coatings reduce the thermal effect, but on a hot sunny day there is a risk of large heating of the root system of plants and complications in the implementation of agrotechnical measures;
- the prefabricated structure only looks simple, in fact, it is not easy to assemble it at home without special tools and skills, even with the right material.
Variety of models
Many summer residents are familiar with the characteristics of corrugated board. Galvanized railings are made from the same material. The following types of structures can be distinguished:
- Normal. It is made of sheet steel, silver, reminiscent of an aluminum fence. For protection, only galvanizing is used (i.e. applying a layer of zinc).
- With extra protection. The degree of security is increased by polymer coating. For the manufacture of the sides, sheet steel is used, which is coated with zinc, and then with a polymer.
- polyurethane frames. They are made in the same way as polymer-coated structures, however, the polymer is replaced by polyurethane. Base – galvanized steel, can be of different colors.
Galvanization protects the material from corrosion and the negative effects of external factors. But zinc can also be adversely affected by an acidic environment. It is to protect zinc from acid that an additional polymer coating is applied.
Video “Galvanized beds: from A to Z”
This video shows how to assemble a galvanized profile garden fence.
Ratings of the best beds
Special criteria will help you choose the best frame option, according to which the structure is evaluated: the thickness of the steel sheet and galvanization, the presence of additional spraying, production technology, installation level.
According to the quality of the material
The thickness of the steel sheet is one of the most important quality criteria. The manufacturer offers models with a thickness of 0,35 to 1 mm. When choosing, you need to focus on the future location of the border: for greenhouse frames, sheets with a thickness of 0,5 mm are suitable, for external ones – from 0,7 mm.
The thickness of the zinc coating is also of great importance. The highest degree of protection is guaranteed by a coating of 25 microns (micrometers). An interlayer with a smaller thickness is easily amenable to mechanical stress.
It is possible to increase the degree of protection and service life with the help of polymer coating, which protects galvanizing from the negative effects of external factors (natural phenomena and human damage).
For design reliability
Factory production adheres to quality standards and manufactures structures according to special technologies: film coating, primer, powder coating and phosphating. That is why it is worth choosing factory designs that consist of high-quality elements, meet all assembly requirements and are developed taking into account the features of the subsequent installation.
Incorrect size or fastening of parts is fraught with displacement and distortion of the curbs. The optimal length of the pegs, which guarantee the stability of the structure, is 25 cm for greenhouses and greenhouses and 35–40 cm for open beds. With embankment dimensions – a height of more than 20 cm and a length of 2 m – the frame must additionally include jumpers between parallel joints.
An increase in the strength and reliability of the structure is also possible due to the central stiffeners. For low greenhouse structures, they will not be needed, but in open beds their presence is mandatory.
Be careful not to take the side bends on the edge line of the profile for stiffening ribs.
Rating of beds with a polymer coating
Of course, the manufacturer in a competitive environment immediately responds to the needs of the consumer. And today, many companies provide various types of polymer coated structures. Making the right choice is difficult, so we will present brief characteristics of the most popular companies according to consumer reviews:
- Green Box. Sales leader. Relatively low cost, the ability to use in greenhouses and open spaces, a wide selection of colors.
- “Merry”. Low price and variety of colors. But with the variability in the choice of the width of the fence, the maximum height of the fence is 15 cm.
- Novovolzhsky plant. The ability to choose the right height and several color options. At the same time, the width is only 50 cm.
- “New gardeners”. Reasonable price, various size options, several color options and a guaranteed service life of up to 30 years. But at the same time, the shape of the frame is only rectangular.
DIY galvanized beds
If you managed to purchase galvanized steel, then the matter remains with the assembly technology. So that the final version does not disappoint, you need to follow a detailed scheme.
Simple beds
The workflow looks like this:
- Make a markup and dig 4 boards into the ground strictly in a vertical position along it.
- Nail wooden frames made of boards to the upper and lower supports.
- Fix metal breaks on the structure and cut it. You need to cut the material with the help of electric shears.
- Fasten the metal parts with bolted connections with a slight indent from the edges of the frame.
If it was not possible to find a galvanization with a polymer coating, then you can replace it with a powder dye.
Gabion beds
Stone fences are reliable and have a great appearance. Gabions also look very impressive, but they are easier to assemble and not so costly in material terms. According to the technology, a metal mesh frame is simply filled with coarse stones or other material.
Step-by-step process:
- Clean and level the location of the beds.
- Rack installation. A pole with flanges at the bottom is used as a rack. The diameter of the rod should be from 0,8 to 1 cm. Install 8 supports that form two rectangles – a larger outer one and a smaller inner one. Fixing racks should be as rigid as possible.
- The grid is constructed from a galvanized mesh or a galvanized rod with a diameter of about 0,5 cm. The mesh size is selected according to the size of the material to be used for filling. It should not be small so as not to fall out, and large so as not to form voids.
- For heavy coarse bulk material, stiffeners will be needed.
The result is two mesh boxes filled with stones or bricks. The base for the gabion can also be purchased.
How to decorate garden beds
Colored fences of different shapes can in themselves streamline and decorate the garden. Yes, and simple steel-colored borders will look spectacular in a minimalist high-tech landscape. But there are options for those who want to make the atmosphere even more cozy and attractive.
Decoration of frames with multi-colored spunbond. If the general nature of the landscape is in a romantic style, then covering fiber can be used to give the structure some softness and airiness. A white coating is ideal, which will not only give the area brightness, but also protect the bed from excessive overheating. White spunbond is able to reflect the sun’s rays.
If the garden is in a shaded area, then a canvas of any shade can be used to decorate compositions made of wood and flower beds.
A general rustic or Provence style can be adorned with weaving plants such as vines. Gabions decorated with climbing roses or grapes will look beautiful. However, the plant for decoration must be chosen so that it does not oppress the crops grown in the garden.
You can paint the frames. To do this, it is not necessary to have artistic skills – you can use stencils.
Author’s advice
You can decorate the structures according to your taste and desire, based on material possibilities. Or you can leave them unadorned, because the best decoration is healthy plants and beautiful fruits.
If you dream of a bountiful harvest and are not constrained by funds, then be sure to equip a couple of “warm” beds with a galvanized frame. We are confident that your material and labor costs will pay off in full.