Drainage Screen "Hardware Cloth"

[Beng]

So I was talking to Julian Adams a month or so ago and was asking if he had large plastic sheets of screen. In the past it's what i've always used. He said he didn't, but suggested instead using Zinc plated hardware cloth. He says the zinc plating repels roots that touch it and keeps the roots from growing through the drainage holes. Made perfect sense at the time so after a little research I bought this roll which is zinc plated. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LF87AE/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00

Then the other day when wiring a tree I was putting a piece of paper on the soil to catch the falling copper. I remember that aluminum also oxidizes and creates chemicals toxic to roots and the tree. Does steel also oxidize? I know nothing about oxidation other then it's bad for our trees. Since i'll be cutting the sheets this would leave the edges of the hardware cloth exposed to water and i'd think they'd oxidize over time as well and become hazardous.... Since it's at the bottom of the pot though most of the root ball would not be affected and any oxidation may be insignificant.

Thoughts?

 

[Poink88]

No idea but I just purchased a lot of cross stitch plastic canvass sheets like these..
http://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Count-Plastic-Canvas-Sheets/dp/B0051VGY1M/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ac_5

It should work and I have enough to last my lifetime. I think I got 50 sheets or so off eBay for cheap. Note that they come in different size holes. (7 count means 7 holes in 1 inch or 49 holes in sq inch)

 

[Beng]

Looks pretty good. I guess that's about 1/7 inch screen?

 

[coh]

You can get the plastic mesh at Jo-anns Fabric stores (and possibly other art/craft stores) if you need a sheet in a hurry. I think it cost about $1.29 per sheet. The amazon price looks to be quite a bit lower...Dario, do you know how much the shipping was?

I don't know the answer to the other question about oxidation.

Chris

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Steel rusts, pretty fast too. I've heard of a few artists securing a tree into a pot with steel because it rusts in a year or so, preventing girdling of roots.

FWIW, I have never had a reaction problem securing a tree in the pot using copper or aluminum wire.

 

[garywood]

Steel rusts, pretty fast too. I've heard of a few artists securing a tree into a pot with steel because it rusts in a year or so, preventing girdling of roots.

FWIW, I have never had a reaction problem securing a tree in the pot using copper or aluminum wire.

Hey Brian, you never will. The chemistry is not there.

 

[Beng]

So it's an old wives tale? If so the zinc plated mesh seems like a great idea.

 

[mat]

You can get the plastic mesh at Jo-anns Fabric stores (and possibly other art/craft stores) if you need a sheet in a hurry...

Chris

This is where I got mine. Multiple colors available, super cheap. I went with Brown. I've had it only for about one year - no sign of wear that I can see.

 

[Ross]

I've been using vegetable crates I find behind a nearby restaurant, lined with plastic sheets I buy at Wal-Mart or Home Depot/Lowes for like $3-5 a roll. One roll is enough to make several containers of this size.

 

[0soyoung]

So it's an old wives tale? If so the zinc plated mesh seems like a great idea.

No, it is an old guys' tale.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I've been using vegetable crates I find behind a nearby restaurant, lined with plastic sheets I buy at Wal-Mart or Home Depot/Lowes for like $3-5 a roll. One roll is enough to make several containers of this size.

Great idea. I've been thinking of doing this with milk crates and wire mesh for screen doors, but hadn't thought of any bigger containers to use.

 

[Poink88]

Great idea. I've been thinking of doing this with milk crates and wire mesh for screen doors, but hadn't thought of any bigger containers to use.

I used milk crate lined with landscaping fabric (perforated black plastic) and it worked.

 

[Poink88]

You can get the plastic mesh at Jo-anns Fabric stores (and possibly other art/craft stores) if you need a sheet in a hurry. I think it cost about $1.29 per sheet. The amazon price looks to be quite a bit lower...Dario, do you know how much the shipping was?

I don't know the answer to the other question about oxidation.

Chris

Yep, you can also find them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Remember, both have 40% coupons you can print online as well.

 

[lordy]

using mesh similar to window screening is not a good idea as it will clog and prevent good drainage. That's why the cross-stitch plastic matrix is better. It will prevent soil granules from passing through but allow fine particles out with the water drainage that would otherwise clump on finer window screen. If you want to use something that is open everywhere, try pond baskets. Google it if you havent seen them before.

 

[augustine]

I get my cross stitch plastic screen at Walmart, in the sewing/fabric dept, for real cheap.

Augustine
Central MD - 7a

 

[Beng]

That screen I originally linked to is 1/8 inch and identical in size to the plastic mesh sold for bonsai screen. There's no reason it would clog, in fact it's less likely to clog as the individual wires are thinner then the plastic screen. The difference is it's zinc plated and zinc repels roots. I was worried about the possibility of the edges of the mesh leaching toxins but as others have said that seems to be a myth.

 

[nathanbs]

Hey Brian, you never will. The chemistry is not there.

I never really thought about this at all and that's ironic as I spend tons of time repairing and restoring the corrosion protection on cars that have been in a collision. When dissimilar metals come in contact with each other, galvanic corrosion occurs which is a fairly rapid process especially in the presence of water and salts. Has anyone ever noticed whether or not aluminum and copper react? I know that aluminum and steel does pretty significantly. Probably not a problem unless you use steel and aluminum wire. I have only seen steel on Chinese imports. I doubt it would harm the tree much more than discoloration.

 

[pjkatich]

Hello beng,

I have been using 1/8" galvanized hardware cloth as drainage screen for 25 years. From my experience, the stuff is bullet proof.

To my knowledge, I have never experienced any problems that could be attributed to it's use and I have never seen it repel the roots of any of the trees that I grow. In fact, the roots of many trees seem to like it and will grow around and through the mess quite freely.

Regards,
Paul

 

[Beng]

Hello beng,

I have been using 1/8" galvanized hardware cloth as drainage screen for 25 years. From my experience, the stuff is bullet proof.

To my knowledge, I have never experienced any problems that could be attributed to it's use and I have never seen it repel the roots of any of the trees that I grow. In fact, the roots of many trees seem to like it and will grow around and through the mess quite freely.

Regards,
Paul

Thanks, great to hear it, the rolls are so cheap. Looking forward to not running to the craft store each year.

 

[fore]

This is a good less expensive alternative, dry wall tape: http://www.homedepot.com/Paint-Pain...oreId=10051&superSkuId=202938902#.UQ08IFp2HtA