We all know that shepherd hooks are trendy and never go out of sight. How to keep shepherds hook from leaning to the side can be a little challenging because they can sometimes support a standard weight. If the shepherd book is made of a lighter material, the weight it can support will be limited.
Since your shepherd hook might lean to the side because of the weight that it can’t support, it is up to you to find ways to make the shepherd hook support weight and not lean to the side. It may sound challenging to do, but if you have the right tools, you can be able to pull it off quite well.
The standard weight that a shepherd hook can hold is twelve pounds of weight. That is the average weight that you can exceed. Some Shepherd hook can exceed this average weight, while others can only go below, and this is basically because of the material that the shepherd hook is made of.
What Material is Your Shepherd Hook Made From?
The materials that a shepherd hook is made of will determine what kind of weight that the shepherd hook can hold. If you notice that your shepherd hook is leaning, you may want to support it in two ways. We will talk about the two methods of supporting your shepherd hook and keeping it from bending.
When you are installing your shepherd hook, you will notice the anchors at the shepherd hook base. These anchors are what helps the shepherd hook to supper weight. Without the anchors, the shepherd hook can not support so much weight.
Method One: Adding Extra Anchors
The first method in this article that we will be talking about is using extra anchors to support a shepherd hook’s weight when anything is hung on it. With additional anchors, you can successfully keep your shepherd hook from leaning.
The first step in this method is first to check the material your shepherd hook is made from. If your Shepherd hook is made from a thick material, you can add extra anchors to support the shepherd hook’s weight and keep it from leaning to the side.
If your shepherd hook is made of a lighter material, you can not throw in extra weight at the shepherd hook base to keep it from falling. The light material that the shepherd hook is made from might not allow that.
If you are unsure of whatever material your shepherd hook is made of, you should check for any accompanying manual. An accompanying manual should be able to state clearly what material your shepherd hook is made from. Once you can determine that, you will also know if you can add anchors to the shepherd hook base.
The type of anchors that we will be recommending is the J-Stake anchors. The J-Stake anchors are quite famous, and if you plan on keeping your shepherd hook from swaying to the side, you will need them to keep the shepherd hook in place.
J-Stake anchors like your shepherd hooks are also made from different materials. Some J-Stake anchors are made from very light materials, which means that they won’t support so much weight. What kind of anchors should you be using then?
Find J-Stake anchors that are clearly labeled as being heavy duty. Heavy-duty stake anchors will be able to support the weight of your shepherd hook when they are correctly installed. You can easily spot heavy-duty J-Stake anchors.
When you have your J-Stake anchors ready, you need to dig up holes around your shepherd hook since you would be installing them around the shepherd hook at the base to keep the shepherd hook from falling. You have to sink the J-Stake anchors to the ground.
How can you sink your J-Stake anchors? What tools should you use to that effect? We will recommend using a rubber mallet to sink your J-Stake anchors into the ground properly. You can handily get rubber mallets from a local store, and you can also purchase it online.
You should install your J-Stake anchors properly. You don’t just sink them into the ground. When you plunge the first J-Stake anchor to the ground, you will install the other anchors at an angle of forty-five degrees. When you install your J-Stake anchors like this, they will be able to support the shepherd hook’s weight and keep it from falling as well.
When you have successfully out in your J-Stake anchors, you can add extra rocks to keep the anchors steady and prevent them from moving. This method of using anchors is easy and preferred because if you decide to change your shepherd hook position, you can do the same to the J-Stake anchors easily.
Method Two: Using Cement
The next method that we will explain is more permanent. You will be required to use cement to keep your shepherd hook in place and keep it from moving. If you don’t plan to move the shepherd hook, this method might be what you want to use to that effect.
The first step you want to do is dig up the hole you will be putting in your shepherd hook. Ensure that you have chosen a good location for your shepherd hook as well so that you don’t run the risks of hurting the roots of any plants while you are digging up the hole. Also, choose a location where you can quickly pour in your cement, and it will dry in no time.
Once you have dug up your hole, you need to start mixing your cement. Some people love to use an already mixed cement. You can use an already mixed cement, or you can make your mixture from scratch, and in this way, you can control the mixture and how thick or thin it should be.
After you have mixed your cement, you should go ahead and pour it into the hole you have dug up, allowing space for where you will be putting in your shepherd hook. You should completely cover up the hole with cement, or you may not be able to put in the shepherd hook.
The next thing to do will be to sink in your Shepherd hook, which is the easiest part. Just put in your shepherd hook, and you are done. Check to see if your shepherd hook is in the ground correctly.
After that, you should allow the cement to dry for at least a day. Some people like to wait till two days before they hang anything on the shepherd hook. After two days, the cement should be completely dry, and you should be ready to use your Shepherd book.
If you decide to keep your shepherd hook from swaying and want a permanent solution, using cement might be what you need. You should note that you can’t move the shepherd hook again after you have done that.
You can also decide to fill up the cement with soil so that it looks more natural. You should purchase quality cement that won’t break off easily after some time.
Uses of Shepherd Hooks
Shepherd hooks are decorative pieces that have been around for a long time now, and they never seem to go away. Many people keep finding ways to innovate and change them, but they still can’t seem to make them go away, and there are so many reasons for this. Traditional decorative pieces seem homely and thus is perhaps what many people want them in their homes.
Decorative Pieces
People want to decorate their patios, gardens, and other areas in their hones without having to spend so much money while doing it, and shepherd hooks are the best things to fill that position. They are inexpensive while also being decorative.
Hanging Flowers
You can use the shepherd hook in a variety of ways. You can use them to hang bowls of flowers, thereby adding more colors to your space. A pop of vibrant colored flowers will never go out of style when it comes to decorating your home.
Hanging Bird Feeders
With a shepherd hook, you can also hand in bird feeders, which makes it very easy for you to feed birds that come around your home. As we said earlier, they are relatively inexpensive while playing essential roles in anyone’s home.
Hanging Lanterns
A shepherd hook can also be used to hang lanterns. If you want to light up your home with lovely lights, you can get a shepherd room for that purpose. They look traditional while being homely, which is perhaps what many people want of it.
Conclusion
There are so many shepherd hooks available in the market, and it is up to you to find whichever one suits you and your style. Some Shepherd hooks are designed to look modern and fit a modern style of a home, while others are made in traditional fashions.
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