Two to six prong marker
When planting up large areas of vegetable garden, it is time and energy saving to have a multiple row marking tool.
 | | Multiple row markers make planting easy |
I recently made one using some L-shape dexion rack material for the head. The L is 1.1/2in each way and the steel is about 12 gauge. The product is relatively lightweight and durable. The piece I used is about 32in long, giving about 30 useable inches. The dexion has 5/16in diameter holes and 5/16in slots, alternating at ¾in spacing. Perfect for a range of marker width settings. The six markers were made from recycled coffee table legs, each having a threaded rod for attaching to the table. The diameter of the threaded rods was perfect for the holes and slots in the dexion. To set-up the tool ready to use the markers are located in the desired holes and secured with a washer and nut. I have used hexagon nuts as they were at hand. At some point they will get replaced by wing nuts, to alleviate the need for a spanner when making changes to the markers. To make the markers I cut the legs down to 4.1/2in and drew a line across the centres of the cut wood. The wood was then marked out about 3/16in either side of the centre line and pencil lines drawn parallel to the centre line. The leg was then marked about 3in up from the cut. The leg was then sawn from the appropriate bottom lines, giving the desired shape and point.
The wooden handle is attached to the head using a 10in x 12in shelf bracket. One side of the round handle was planed to make a flat surface for butting up with the 12in part of the bracket.
The bracket was then screwed to the handle with the 10in part butting firmly up to the head. This was then fixed together with two small nuts and bolts - passing the bolts through screw holes in the bracket (which were opened up a little to take the bolts) and through the appropriate holes in the dexion head, then locating and tightening the nuts.
Further strengthening and stabilising was achieved by bending a large washer and placing it over the edge of the dexion L-head. It was secured by passing a bolt through the dexion on the opposite side, then through the bent washer, locating and tightening the nut.
The garden line marker
When setting seeds, seedlings or plants in a line it is usually helpful to have a marking line, even when using a marking tool like the one described above.
I use several different style garden marker lines, all designed to eliminate or reduce the need to bend. I’d like to describe the one I have been using recently. It makes good sense to utilise available tools in multiple ways, so long as they are easy to use and practical in the situation. With this in mind, I decided to utilise two of my home-grown tools for a no-bend garden line marker.
 | | The marking out equipment |
On rummaging through bits and pieces in our old caravan, I came across the cord and the control handle of a long demised kite. The handle is designed to accommodate the cord and allow it to unwind easily. It is also quick and easy to wind the cord back on the handle when required. I thought this would lend itself perfectly to being part of a no-bend garden line system. This project was achieved by utilising a walking stick with a tent peg attached (weed extractor) and another walking stick with a small border fork attached. A loop was made on the end of the cord and placed at the top of the tent peg or near, according to soil conditions.
To the walking stick with the fork attached, I screwed a hook with a small circumference (about that of a penny) in the stick, about 5 or 6in below the handle.
I then opened out the hook to make it easier to wrap the cord around, also as a place for the kite handle to rest. The tool is relatively light and easy to use. The tent peg walking stick is pushed into the ground with the cord attached. The line is then wound out to the point where the straight line is to end. The tines of the fork are placed over the cord, which is then made taut and wound around the hook three or four turns, the kite handle can then hang on the hook. When the mark is made, simply take the handle off the hook. Remove the fork and wind in the cord until reaching the tent peg walking stick and pull it from the ground. More Able To Garden DVDs or videos are available by writing to Mrs Kendall, Home Farm, The Green, North Wooton, King's Lynn, PE30 3PR.
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