We have been growing our own grapes, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries for the past 5 years in our backyard. Over the past several years local wildlife has damaged our plants…ruining our gardening experience. As you know, gardening costs time and money. No one wants that to be wasted!

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Last year I tried fencing but the fencing still allowed the smaller animals like groundhogs, moles, voles, rabbits, possums, etc. to get into our gardens. This year…I got smarter!

I went and purchased a metal chicken coop wire mesh fencing with smaller openings. It’s pliable and easy to work with. I bought 5 rolls of it and got busy! I made by own “box shaped” cages from the chicken coop mesh fencing to go around all of our grapevines, blueberry and raspberry bushes. In my photograph you’ll see it around a few of our grapevines. I used plastic zip-ties to adhere the fences together and into a box shape.

You’ll cut the chicken wire fencing to the size that you need using wire cutters. Form a rectangular or square shaped box, allowing space for your plant to grow. It’s pliable so you can bend it into shape. Fasten the ends together using plastic zip ties. Yes, that easy and it didn’t take me long to get a bunch of protective garden plant boxes made.  Once they’re made you’ll want to stake them into the ground or use rope, twine or zip ties to attach them to fencing or trees. You need to secure them around each plant.

It’s been 6 weeks and our plants have really grown nicely. The wildlife can’t harm them any more! I’ve got most of them completed and will be making extra ones for new plants going in next year. If you’re having an issue with wildlife getting into and ruining your fruit bushes and grapevines…give this method a try!

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My wife has at least 30 houseplants all around our home with another 2 dozen or so in our Florida sun room. She enjoys both indoor and outdoor gardening. Friends and family come to her all of the time to get various houseplant starters from her. I have to admit, she has a pretty good green thumb!

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One of our neighbors down the street gave me a metal plant stand that was originally a solid black in color. We decorate our home in a coastal beach theme, so the black color had to go! Here’s how I repainted and refinished the houseplant stand.

I took it outside and hosed it down with soap and water. It had dirt and grime all over it. There was a small area that had some rust so I used fine sandpaper and smoothed that out. Rinsed the particles away with water. I towel dried it and then left it sit in the sunshine for several hours to finish drying.

The next day I put a drop cloth down outside. I used a white spray paint that is made for outdoor use. I picked up the can from Amazon. I sprayed two coats over the entire houseplant stand. Left it dry for 2 hours, flipped it over and sprayed all of the underside areas. Left it dry for another 2 hours.

If you want a glossy finish you can certainly use a white paint that gives you that. She wanted a matte finish, so that’s what I used. I recommend that you use an outdoor paint, that way if it gets wet when you’re watering your houseplants it won’t cause rusting issues on the metal. If you’re going to keep the plant stand outside on a back deck or front porch I do recommend you spray it with a clear spray sealer giving it 2-3 coats.

Finally, The felt pads on the bottom of the legs were gone. We have hardwood floors, so I cut new felt pads and glued them onto the bottom of each leg using Gorilla Glue. Left it dry overnight. Finally, it was done. I think it turned out fantastic and all it really cost me was one can of outdoor spray paint!

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