I use arches more for aesthetic reasons than anything else. I have certainly seen them used as straight row trellises with excellent results. As the panels are 16 ft. long you certainly need more than just end posts to support them. Here is a link to them being used as straight panels for cucumbers.

Here is a link that might be useful: cattle panels

I think the cattle panels are great. We cut them in half with a reciprocating saw. You can use zip-ties to attach them to one another for various configurations -- upright panel, A-frames, zig-zags, etc.

I use them as straight panels for my pole beans. I have my cucumbers growing on them as well up my garden fence. For a 16' panel you can use 3 t-posts and it will hold up well. I have even used them around my tomato plants. I just run a panel on each side of the plants. I use them because I have them left over from buildig fence on my pastures but they work really well.

Many use them as horizontal straight panels for trellising. Especially for tomatoes. Pole beans too. They work fine.

Dave

I just wish I could find them in my area, they are just not to be found around here, so I have to use the large opened square netting to trellis vining veggies.

We used them for the first time this year. Cut 1wire off the bottom so we can shove the ends into the ground. Then a couple tobacco sticks and zip ties holds everything up well.

Looked at them last year (at TSC), they seemed pretty rigid and were sold flat so I bought rolls of CRW at HD instead. A pain to unroll but at least I could do it at home with DH.

How do you get the cattle/hog panel home without a 16ft trailer? Do you cut it? Roll it up and zip tie it in the parking lot?

for some interesting use of panels and fencing you should check out this site. https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Knot-in-Thyme/145158798843981#!/pages/A-Knot-in-Thyme/145158798843981?id=145158798843981&sk=photos_stream

As for the arches taking up space, you can definitely plant under them, ideally crops that could use some shade in the summer heat. If you used raised beds and they're at least 3 feet apart I imagine you could also put them between beds.

brittanyw...that's how I have my trellises set up, between two beds. When it's hot and I want to take a break, I put a garden chair under the bean-covered trellis and relax with my cold beverage.

Ajsmama,

You pretty much need to have a trailer to haul them. You could roll them up some big not really enough to be able to haul without a trailer.

Thanks - they seemed pretty stiff. I know someone who tied them to his roof rack and they did hang down a little over the sides of his car but I'm not going to try that with my car and the truck has an app 5x5 ft bed.

I love my cattle panels, they get used in whatever trellis project I need. I had them cut to eight foot lengths when I bought them - they just brought out the bolt cutters and the panels fit into the truck. I have used the same ones over and over for about 15 years now.

I have mostly used them for tomatoes. I stake the cattle panels up and tie the tomatoes to them. My tomatoes are secure and I don't have any cages falling over. If I feel like making a little hoop house I post a couple of panels parallel to each other, bend pliable PVC pipe over the top and add a plastic cover. Easy, cheap and you can stand up in it.

I use the cattle panels for an arbor. I set them up in row 5 feet apart using t-post to support them. Then for the top. I take a splitting maul and lightly ding two of them ( one at a time) down the middle length wise. Then bend them at a 45 degree angle and set them atop the panels tied to the t-post then wire every thing together. Four panels will make one 16 foot arbor. They can be hauled in a pickup truck bed. Just arch them up. Although unloading cann be hazardous because they become spring loaded.

Yep even a small sized pick up truck works. Just bend them into an arch, and the pressure keeps them very stable. If you tie the ends together with bungie cords then when you pull them out they stay arched.

Yes, I cut mine to 5 foot heights using a metal blade on a recip saw and interweave onto 1/2" electric conduit as the frame. I grow peas, beans, and various squash on them.

Here is a link that might be useful: See link for some pictures

The CRW sold at HD is very sturdy too. But it is just 40" tall. So if you want them taller, have to turn them around, placing the 40" on the ground and cut any height you want, 5" , 6" ..whatever. they come both in a panel 40" by 84"(=7') and a big roll.

As with cattle panels for trellis, those CRW also need to be installed on T-posts or REbars.

Extended cab pickup - short bed with a toolbox. And wheel wells. I'd have to see how wide it really is, but I'd say 4-5ft. Do they bend that much? And I'd be a little afraid to drive down with road with peak of arch(es) higher than the cab. Bungies won't hold spring-loaded panels if something moves.

Now, a battery-operated sawzall - that's an idea. I don't know if a hacksaw would work (slow). What gauge wire are they made of? I really have to get some up for my dad -he's ready to plant tomatoes and I can't stand seeing them sprawl. He also thinks he can plant peas now (I think it's too late, he can try for a fall crop but usually we just put in a spring crop in April).

Of course he planted his bush cukes and squash on the north side of the garden right next to neighbor's hedge, with 2 rows of corn to the south of them and then tomatoes are going to the south of those. So I don't know if maybe it's best to let tomatoes sprawl so everything north of them will get some light (at least the corn). Peas and beans are going in a different bed with some afternoon shade.