Sleeves
Introduction
Your Christmas display may have items that are held up by posts. My display uses T-posts. Each year I drove T-posts into the ground to support the display items, then removed them at the end of the season. Other people create a heavy base such as a tire filled with cement to support an item such as a Megatree, which is stored away at the end of the season.
A superior solution for me was to permanently place a PVC pipe sleeve into the ground, place a removable post into the sleeve, then attach the display to the post. At the end of the season the post pulls right out, leaving the sleeve available for next year's deployment.
How I've Used Sleeves
Megatrees
My Megatrees consist of a 10 foot length of 1½ inch EMT pipe into which a standard T-post slips nicely. In the past I have driven T-posts into the ground, lifted the pipe (with light strings attached) 4½ feet into the air to insert over the end of the T-post, a task that gets more challenging each year.
With the sleeves I've shortened the portion of the T-post that sticks above ground to 18 inches. The shorter length worked just fine, as there is little side force on the T-post. It's much easer to install the pipe over the shorter T-post.
VUmeter
My VUmeter is 6 feet high and 16 inches wide. A single T-post is permanently attached to the back of the mounting board, then slipped into the sleeve each year.
Framed LED Tree Array
The array consists of three wooden frames that are 8 feet wide by 4 feet high, hinged together into a 24 foot length. Twelve LED "fairy light" trees are contained in the array. Two T-posts stabilize the display, and are attached to the display with bungee cords. Rather than remove the anchor plates I simply turn the T-posts upside down.
Fenced LED Tree Array
The array consists of 3 foot welded wire fence to which I have attached eight LED "fairy light" trees. The first end is attached to a conveniently located light pole, and the other end is attached to a T-post that is inserted into a sleeve. Again, the T-post is simply turned upside down rather than remove the anchor plate.
Materials and Tools
- 2½ inch PVC pipe 18 inches long
- 1 inch PVC pipe 12 inches long
- 1 inch PVC pipe cap
- 7/8 inch auger bit
- 1¾ inch auger bit, 30 inches long (available [here])
- T-post. Cut to 36 inch length if it's to be used with a Megatree
- Power drill
- Grinder or file (optional, if needed - read below)
There are many options besides T-posts for mounting your displays, such as:
- A standard wooden closet pole/rod fits nicely inside a 1 ¼ inch PVC pipe
- A 1 inch schedule 40 PVC pipe fits nicely inside a 1 ¼ inch PVC pipe
Pick the option that best suits the strength needed and style you prefer.
Construction
PVC Sleeve
A hole is simply drilled in the ground and the PVC sleeve is slipped into place. We have compact clay soil in my area, so I found it useful to first drill a pilot hole with the sturdy 7/8 inch auger bit. Drill the pilot hole 18 inches deep, or as deep as your drill bit will permit. Then, CAREFULLY drill the finished hole 18 inches deep with the 1¾ inch auger bit. In my clay soil the bit would easily seize, and my power drill was strong enough to twist the relatively light shaft of the bit. No problem, I just hammered the shaft straight again then carefully drilled an inch or two at a time, pulling the bit up and cleaning the dirt from the flutes between each step. The 18 inch PVC pipe will then slip right in to the hole. I tamped the dirt around the PVC pipe a bit to help resist being pulled out when the post is removed.
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Auger bits and PVC sleeve -
Drilling with auger
Post
For most applications I used 6 foot T-posts. For Megatrees I purchased 6 foot T-posts, cut them in half, and removed the anchor plate from the post. I found that the T-posts fit easily inside the Megatree EMT pipes, but depending on the brand of T-post there could be binding when slipping inside the PVC pipe. To solve this problem I used a grinder to remove a small amount from the first 18 inches of each of the three edges of the T-post as well as the "nibs". With this modification the T-post slipped easily into the PCV sleeve.
Debris Protector
When not in use with a post inserted, debris can fall into the PVC pipe, filling up the hole. I addressed this problem during the off-season by placing a PVC cap on the end of a 12 inch long piece of 1 inch PVC pipe, then placing this assembly into the end of the 2½ inch PVC pipe. If desired, you can paint the cap with a color that matches your landscape to make it less noticeable. If you're worried about people tripping over the protruding cap you could fashion a flat plate over the end of the 1 inch PVC pipe; if you come up with a design, please share it for others to use.
Deployment
Each year remove the Debris Protector and insert the post into the PVC sleeve, then proceed with attaching the display to the post. In the case of Megatrees, 18 inches of the T-post goes inside the PVC sleeve and 18 inches projects above ground. Slip the Megatree's EMT pipe over the above-ground portion as shown below and the Megatree will remain freestanding.
