Garden Fencing
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Fencing Overview
Fencing may not be necessary in all environments, but in most it's helpful. Dogs, cats, kids at play, birds and other critters in the neighborhood will either unintentionally or intentionally end up in your garden damaging plants, enjoying your produce before you do and dig holes where you don't necessarily want them. Give strong consideration to fencing in your garden area if you think any of these scenarios are at all a possible option.
 9 foot tall hardware cloth fencing with 4"x4" posts and 2'x4' reinforcing boards  Orchard trees are protected by 4' woven wire fences and t-posts in 6' by 6' configurations |
Consider what needs to be kept out of your gardenWhen thinking about fencing, look at what kind of animals you have in your area and which of these likely try to enter your garden area. Some, like deer, will jump in. Others like moles, rats and prairie dogs will burrow their way in. Still others like squirrels will present particularly difficult challenges with their ability to scale just about any fence or structure.
1. Deer: A fence of 7' or very small, enclosed spaces will deter them from entering. 2. Rodents: Small screen hardware cloth at least 7 feet in height will help with raccoons and opossums. Prairie dogs will sometimes decide to make homes in the soil. Squirrels are one of the biggest problems in the garden. They can chew through bird netting, so hardware cloth or electric fencing will be your likely best bet. 3. Birds: birds are going to be a problem for almost everyone. You can consider that some of your produce can go to the birds as a way of giving back to nature. However, if birds become a real problem, you can either put hardware cloth or bird netting across your garden. Use bird netting with caution as it can be nasty stuff that will occasionally ensnare animals you do want like beneficial snakes, toads and lizards. 4. Wild pigs: wild pigs are increasingly becoming a problem even in urban areas. Nocturnal animals that have a great sense of smell, feral hogs and javelina are best managed by not allowing them access to begin with. Electric wiring can work, but the area must be completely encompassed by multiple strands of high voltage wire. The other option is using sturdy cattle panels with 4'x4" posts or sturdy t-posts that can be placed at the length of the cattle panel. The fencing must be a minimum of 28 inches high. Protection for Orchard TreesMany orchard trees, especially newly planted trees, younger trees and smaller trees with new growth will need protection from animals, but especially deer. To learn more about caring for orchards, be sure to visit the Life Slice Orchard section.
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Garden Gates
Obviously when you fence in your garden, you'll need a way for yourself to enter and exit, which generally involves some sort of gate. Gates can be made of any closely spaced material, but consider the maintenance and longevity aspects of the materials you wish to use. Wooden gates can be aesthetically pleasing, but in areas where the climate is harsh, you may find yourself replacing them after only a few years. In milder climates, this will not likely be an issue.
When putting in a gate, you'll want to consider putting in a footer so animals will not be inclined to burrow their way under the gate. If deer are a problem for you, put a lintel over the gate. There have been many instances where gardeners have gone to the time and trouble to enclose their garden with a tall fence, but forgot about the gate and the deer will happily clear the gate to get into the garden.
When putting in a gate, you'll want to consider putting in a footer so animals will not be inclined to burrow their way under the gate. If deer are a problem for you, put a lintel over the gate. There have been many instances where gardeners have gone to the time and trouble to enclose their garden with a tall fence, but forgot about the gate and the deer will happily clear the gate to get into the garden.
Gates need a lintel to prevent animals from jumping into the garden
