Tomato Cages

[nycousin 0]

I would like to make a few trees from tomato cages. I was going to put two together for added stability. I noticed from reading here that some of you use a tripod type frame. How do you fasten these down so they don't blow away. How can I fasten down the tomato cages? Living here in WNY the wind always blows and mostly quite hard when it snows. Lots of lake effect snow. Thanks.

[tfischer 17]

The tripods people just stick in the ground (that's what they're designed for, only usually to hang wreaths). We use the tomato cages, and use landscaping staples to hold them down. Works very well...

I used a larger, thicker cage than the cheapo ones (something like $1.20 each vs. 45 cents...) They hold up really well. I use the cheapo ones for my tomatos, and doubling up might actually be a good idea if you use those...

-Tim

[Cajun Cheesehead 0]

You may want to check out

http://www.christmasinkent.com/HowToMinis.htm

I am just getting into more eloborate displays. In the past I tried a single tomato cage and didn't like the triangular shape. I am thinking of trying this method.

Just a side thought here. Don't forget to go to all the enthusiast's links listed in Planet Christmas. It has given me a lot of great ideas.

[Brian Mitchell 16]

I buy a bundle of lathe from the building supply and use it for staking everything down. For the mini trees I pound in a strip and set the minitree over it. They never moved at all last year.

[nycousin 0]

Brian, I noticed that you put garland on them. I do that for my trees for inside, like my big tomato cage tree and coat hanger trees. I was thinking of just putting the lights on the tomato cages outside.

Cajun, I am not real experienced, but when I saw how the cages were triangular I did two things. 1. Doubled up on them and 2. Used wire to reinforce to make them round.

The garland also helps with that.

You spoke of lathe, am I going to be able to pound this into the ground. I am a 62 yr old female.

My husband is in a wheelchair and I fasten two down last year on his steel ramp with those plastic ties or bands. They worked fine there, but wouldn't work in the grass.

thanks

p.s. With just normal lighting, nothing fancy for now, do I need one extension cord for each tree or can I do the three string thing?

[Kathi Manley 0]

Brian, in the foreground of your picture, you have some kind of stake that looks like it has a hole in the top that you have run mini lights through to make a 'fence'...

can you tell me what that is?

Also, I don't know what 'lathe' is.... I guess I thought it was a woodworking tool.

Thanks,

Kathi

[Brian Mitchell 16]

I guess what lathe actually is, is the boards that would run across the inside of a wall that would hold all the plaster in the days before sheetrock. I'm not sure what else it's used for. You can buy a bundle for around 8 bucks I think. It's 4ft lengths about 1 1/2 inches wide and 1/4 inches thick.

The stakes are lathe cut in half with a sheetrock screw partially screwed into the top to hook the minilights onto. They surround my entire yard. My arm was plum wore out pounding in the 100 or so stakes this week.

[nycousin 0]

Cajun Cheesehead wrote:

You may want to check out

http://www.christmasinkent.com/HowToMinis.htm

Wonderful link, thanks. I am still confused though as to why we cut the cages rather and just put them together and stagger the joints. Sorry, could be the female brain. :laughing:

[Cajun Cheesehead 0]

It looks like he cuts them so the base can be wider. Then he brings the upper rings a little tighter. The resulting tree shape is a little wider at the base and not so conical.

[nycousin 0]

That sure makes sense, thank you. I am not sure if I am strong enough to cut the wire, but I will try one and see.

[skibozo 0]

nycousin wrote:

That sure makes sense, thank you. I am not sure if I am strong enough to cut the wire, but I will try one and see.

Easy way is to use bolt cutters such as the one in the first photo. Borrow one from friends or family. Or Home Depot sells a 2' long one for about $20.

Easiest way, my personal favorite......power tools!

Cutting the cages is for aesthetics, and involve more work. Look around at pictures on this website of mini-trees and decide which version you like.

[Chris in Ct 0]

At Walmart I bought packs of tent stakes. The ones I bought have a 10" gutter nail with a plastic hook type thing on the top.Just hit it into the ground and place the hook over the bottom ring of the cage. They came 4 in a pack for $1.97

[nycousin 0]

Great idea, I will look in our Walmart. Thanks.

[Chris in Ct 0]

nycousin wrote:

Great idea, I will look in our Walmart. Thanks.

They are in the camping section. They have plastic ones that are less exspensive that would work also.

[ernurseguy 0]

I used the tomato cages this year for my mini trees also. At Home Depot/Lowes/Etc. they have poultry netting. It's like chicken wire, but made out for pretty strong plastic. Also, the "joles" are much smaller. It took some time to wrap around, but it cuts easy with scissors and really gets the round shape I was looking for. It's a whole lot easier to work with then metal chicken wire or welding/soldering more supports around it. Zip tie the poultry netting on and zip tie on some lights.

I would add a picture, but my camera is broken. I can add one in a few days if anyone would like.

Chris

[Kathi Manley 0]

ernurseguy wrote:

I used the tomato cages this year for my mini trees also. At Home Depot/Lowes/Etc. they have poultry netting. It's like chicken wire, but made out for pretty strong plastic. Also, the "joles" are much smaller. It took some time to wrap around, but it cuts easy with scissors and really gets the round shape I was looking for. It's a whole lot easier to work with then metal chicken wire or welding/soldering more supports around it. Zip tie the poultry netting on and zip tie on some lights.

I would add a picture, but my camera is broken. I can add one in a few days if anyone would like.

Chris

Chris, please do post a pic when you can! I am very interested in seeing how they look.

Kathi

[mnapuran 0]

The garland above is a nice touch for daytime viewing.

Nothin special... but here are a few of mine in the garage last night as I was putting them together. Finished them up this morning though. Not too bad for about $9/ea

[ernurseguy 0]

katelynal wrote:

ernurseguy wrote:

Chris, please do post a pic when you can! I am very interested in seeing how they look.

Kathi

Kathi,

I tried to post a picture, but even on the lowest camera setting, it still said the file was too big. I have posted pictures to our website www.leonelights.com (which is still very much under construction!!). Sorry it took so long to get these to you, our camera broke and the new one just came today.

By wrapping them with the PVC poultry netting, I was able to get them about 6' tall. Each is wrapped with 400 lights (white). There is PLENTY of room to add more lights, I just don't have the extension cords this year.Let me know if you have any other questions.

Chris

[skibozo 0]

Chris,

If you are running XP, go to the Microsoft website, and search for 'powertoys'. Download the 'image resizer'. Then all you have to do is right-click on a picture and select 'resize pictures'. It will make a copy of your picture and create ajpeg small enough to post here.

[Kathi Manley 0]

Kathi,

I tried to post a picture, but even on the lowest camera setting, it still said the file was too big. I have posted pictures to our website http://www.leonelights.com (which is still very much under construction!!). Sorry it took so long to get these to you, our camera broke and the new one just came today.

By wrapping them with the PVC poultry netting, I was able to get them about 6' tall. Each is wrapped with 400 lights (white). There is PLENTY of room to add more lights, I just don't have the extension cords this year.Let me know if you have any other questions.

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for thinking of me during this busy time!! I did go to your website, but got the error below - don't sweat it though ... I have enough unfinished projects to last until next year now :laughing: I'll just bookmark your site and check in from time to time to see how things are going. I bet the trees look awesome and I am looking forward to seeing them.

Kathi

Error Your request could not be processed. The following error has occured:

HTTP: 451 Unauthorized: Key Invalid Description: Unauthorized request: Invalid key(I'm using Firefox)

[marksk 0]

i followed the instructions from another site and shortened the cages. it shows to take a piece of the cage and bend it like a candy cane. use three or four of them to stake the tree to the ground.