PVC hoops are very useful in a vegetable garden. I leave mine in place year round, so they're available to use when I need to cover my plants with row cover fabric or shade cloth. Securing the row cover fabric to the hoops can be challenging especially in a high wind. Hoop clips are an easy way to make sure the fabric stays put. I started out using battery clamps for my hoop clips. These work pretty well, but they can be expensive and difficult to find in large sizes. When I found instructions on the web for making homemade PVC clips, I was sold. The PVC clips are inexpensive and easy to make with just a few tools. You'll need a measuring tape, a marker, a hacksaw, a Dremel drill with a cutting wheel and a grinding attachment and the PVC. When using PVC hoops made from ½ inch thick walled pipe, select ½ inch thin walled PVC pipe for the clips. Start by measuring and marking the PVC into 2 inch sections. Use the hacksaw to cut the PVC at each marked point. Use the Dremel cutting wheel to cut a half inch section from the PVC. This will create the opening needed to use the PVC as a clip. The Dremel grinding attachment should fit nicely in the clip opening. Use the grinding wheel to smooth the rough edges of the PVC where the cuts where made. Round the corners using the grinder. Smooth out any rough places on the PVC that could snag the row cover fabric. The finished clips will pile up before you know it. The clips will snap on easily over your fabric for a secure fit.
