This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
Hi
I have got 18" hanging baskets that I have been so proud of planting for the first time, I had someone come round to put up 2 heavy duty brackets up for me now here is the bad bit
Attched the heavy duty chain to the basket and lifted it off it's flower pot base that its been resting on....the chain snapped!!
Went outside and checked brackets as I thought there is no way the bracket will hold this, gave it a tug and it came off the wall!!!!
Well, I suppose the first thing to do is find someone different to fix the brackets, and who knows how to do it! Any bracket should resist more than a tug by hand.
An 18" hanging basket is quite a big one, and will need quite a lot of support, especially when it's wet. See if you can find a local hardware store that sells chain off a reel. You need something with welded links for this job, with the links being made of stuff that is around 1/8th" in dia. (about 2-3mm). There will probably be a selection of stuff that is plated or coated so it doesn't rust, and will look fairly good.
Sounds like you have the right idea about using a heavy duty bracket. What is it fixed to? If to a brick wall I would suggest using archor bolts to do it. These are bolts that have an expanding metal sleeve that will grip far better than a wall plug. If it fixes to something else, like timber, use big screws (2½ - 3" long by No. 10 or 12), suitably plated so they don't rust, and screwed into a main frame member.
After this you should be able to confidently walk under them without need of a crash helmet.
Thank you....
I did come up with an idea last night of buying 'punch bag chains' they can hold up to 50kilos!!
The bracket is attached to a wall but I think I am going to need a much sturdier one to hold these baskets, wrought iron ones should do it don't you think?
ageandjo wrote:I did come up with an idea last night of buying 'punch bag chains' they can hold up to 50kilos!!
I also though that some thick cord, like sashcord (but synthetic) would do it, but may not look as good as chain.
...and then wrote:The bracket is attached to a wall but I think I am going to need a much sturdier one to hold these baskets, wrought iron ones should do it don't you think?
I would think so, though obviously go for something fairly stout.
It's obvious but I just thought I'd mention it! If you're buying chain, you also need to buy the shackles so that you can fix the chain to the basket!
I think buying chain by the metre from a DIY place will be cheaper than kosher punch bag chains. My punch bag is suspended using a metre of bog standard shop bought chain. - works just fine (and makes a good rattling noise when I hit it!)
Oh..and from exerience..work out the lengths of chain you need (usually 3 per basket) and get the DIY store people to cut the chains to length - they may have a pneumatic cutter or they may have ordinary bolt cutters. Either way, unless *you* have access to a pneumatic cutter those chains take a *lot* of sweat to cut! Well...it did with my puny arms!
