Hey everyone! I'm working on a project where I have two arbors about 18 feet apart on my patio, and I've been training jasmine to climb between them. The jasmine has become pretty heavy, and now the arbors are leaning in, which is causing the cables to sag. I want to avoid tightening the cables because that might make the situation worse. I was thinking about using one or two sturdy metal rods, maybe around 1.5 to 2 inches wide, that could telescope to help redistribute some pressure and potentially correct the lean. Does anyone know if such a rod exists or have advice on what to look for? Any help would be appreciated!
4 Answers
If you can’t find what you need off-the-shelf, it might be best to reach out to a local metal shop for a custom solution. They should be able to help you create something that fits your exact needs!
It sounds like you might want to consider using guy wires to help pull the arbors apart instead of just relying on a rod. This can provide outward tension to stabilize them. If you're thinking about adding a rod, remember that for 18 feet, you'll need something with a solid cross-section to prevent buckling. If you go that route, a thick aluminum tube might work well.
You might want to explore telescoping poles that are typically used for cleaning windows on multi-story buildings; they can reach up to 24 feet. However, check if they’re sturdy enough for your setup. An additional option is to tension the other side of the arbors as well to balance things out.
I’ve seen some chain link fence top rails that could work for your needs. Using two of those would give you extra support without being too heavy. You can usually find them at Home Depot or Lowe's if you're looking to tackle this project soon! A picture would definitely help to visualize your setup though!
Thanks for the suggestion! I appreciate the advice about the guy wires, but I’m worried about them being a tripping hazard. A thicker pole could be concealed by the jasmine, so I might look into that.