DIY Rain Canopy

Does anyone have experience building a makeshift rain cover for Sept/Oct...or does such a thing exist for growers out of the box? I'm not trying to build a greenhouse or anything elaborate, just looking to prop up a 10' x 10' canopy kind of thing with a clear tarp so the plants can still get sun and not get soaked while in flower...

Last year I used porch umbrellas during sep/oct every time it rained and at night to keep the dew off lol. I too am looking for something a little more permanent to keep them dry but easy to take down when completed.

I've been thinking about using a greenhouse material and some 4x4x10s this year and just making a canopy. I was looking at this greenhouse material on amazon, comes in a bunch of different sizes.

Amazon.com: Clear Greenhouse Heavy Duty tarp 14 Mil Clear Waterproof Cover 10 Year UV Resistant Poly Tarp with Grommets 8 x10ft Superior Strength ,for Gardening, Farming, Nursery, Garden : Patio, Lawn & Garden

The-Liquor said:

Last year I used porch umbrellas during sep/oct every time it rained and at night to keep the dew off lol. I too am looking for something a little more permanent to keep them dry but easy to take down when completed.

I've been thinking about using a greenhouse material and some 4x4x10s this year and just making a canopy. I was looking at this greenhouse material on amazon, comes in a bunch of different sizes.

Amazon.com: Clear Greenhouse Heavy Duty tarp 14 Mil Clear Waterproof Cover 10 Year UV Resistant Poly Tarp with Grommets 8 x10ft Superior Strength ,for Gardening, Farming, Nursery, Garden : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Click to expand...

Yeah I came across that as well, among other materials. I'm also questioning the impact of these different materials on sun exposure - I assume the less transparent they are the less sun comes through, so I've been eyeing this tarp for it's clarity - finding a frame at the right dimensions is the hard part...

I guess I never considered the transparency of the material. I assumed it being green house material it wouldn't restrict to much but now I donno haha

Found this outfit that has everything I would need - 10' x 10' A frame paired with a 10' x 12' clear vinyl cover...but clocking in at $500 for a canopy that will need to be heavily secured lest easily blown away seems a bit much...I suppose if it lasts for years to come then maybe that's not so bad.

This would be a sweet DIY. I have been thinking of this same concept. I was thinking of wood posts or poles that are set in the ground and have the “roof” be cattle fence with green house plastic.
This all depends on height tho. Also aesthetics lol

Yeah I'm confined to our newly renovated 2nd story deck, so I can't go drilling holes everywhere to secure some frankenstein contraption. Aesthetics are also important to me and this kind of thing is about as minimal and visually unoffending as I can find.

jimbonorman said:

Yeah I'm confined to our newly renovated 2nd story deck, so I can't go drilling holes everywhere to secure some frankenstein contraption. Aesthetics are also important to me and this kind of thing is about as minimal and visually unoffending as I can find.

Click to expand...

What about one of them sunset awnings since ur on a deck?

A little more pricey but checks all the rest of the boxes.

LewberDewber852 said:

A little more pricey but checks all the rest of the boxes.

Click to expand...

Believe me, I've dreamed up the extravagant -- remote controlled awnings that I can expand and retract from anywhere whenever the rain is coming. The cost just doesn't justify it - I never use the damn deck except for growing

I built a couple shade sails for the pergula I have out back. I Just slide my plants over from the full sun to under the shade sails but they provide decent rain protection when rain is expected. Doesnt keep it all off but really does a pretty good job of keeping them dry. Can also hang up some mosquito netting in the fall. Did this last summer and it seemed to work however all my outside grow still ended up trash From the catapillars and bud rot. So good luck!!! You can always order the size you want and then build you a frame to mount it, just ensure you “shed roof” so rain runs off and not on your plants.

jimbonorman said:

Believe me, I've dreamed up the extravagant -- remote controlled awnings that I can expand and retract from anywhere whenever the rain is coming. The cost just doesn't justify it - I never use the damn deck except for growing

Click to expand...

Well lean-too greenhouse plastic it is then

Cheap, fast, good. You can only have two.

I have a raised bed on earth with a frost line of like 36-40” so I am limited to some sort of permanent posts…

i just use a builders scaffold frame with just one cross brace some poles and clear roof sheets works great

they easy to get secondhand, you can move it around i got 3 sets for $30ea

4 poles, 4 bits of timber and as many clear sheets as you need to cover the patch, plus an extra bit of hangover for when it’s windy and raining.
Very effective and cheap…

The-Liquor said:

Last year I used porch umbrellas during sep/oct every time it rained and at night to keep the dew off lol. I too am looking for something a little more permanent to keep them dry but easy to take down when completed.

I've been thinking about using a greenhouse material and some 4x4x10s this year and just making a canopy. I was looking at this greenhouse material on amazon, comes in a bunch of different sizes.

Amazon.com: Clear Greenhouse Heavy Duty tarp 14 Mil Clear Waterproof Cover 10 Year UV Resistant Poly Tarp with Grommets 8 x10ft Superior Strength ,for Gardening, Farming, Nursery, Garden : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Click to expand...

Love it!
I used to use big pub garden umbrellas years ago. They certainly do the trick.

GreenestBasterd said:

View attachment 5294225
4 poles, 4 bits of timber and as many clear sheets as you need to cover the patch, plus an extra bit of hangover for when it’s windy and raining.
Very effective and cheap…

Click to expand...

cant beat that set up great work mate

bursto said:

cant beat that set up great work mate

Click to expand...

Thanks mate. Good old Bunnings

GreenestBasterd said:

Thanks mate. Good old Bunnings

Click to expand...

yeah i dont mind going to the new big mega bunnings they built near me

GreenestBasterd said:

View attachment 5294225
4 poles, 4 bits of timber and as many clear sheets as you need to cover the patch, plus an extra bit of hangover for when it’s windy and raining.
Very effective and cheap…

Click to expand...

Looks awesome. When you say sheets, what material, specifically, are you talking about? Plexiglass, or something else?