Posted by Duncan Page on Thu, Jan 19, 2012
This video shows you how to protect your garden by installing a wire fence. Follow the steps shown and you will have a garden fence that will keep your plantings safe and secure.
Do you find this video helpful?
Check out our other garden fence blog articles!
Posted by Duncan Page on Tue, Jan 03, 2012
Are you thinking ahead and planning for the new year? Will you need to put up a fence? What kind of wire fence will you need to use? Will a welded wire fence work best for you? Or would a woven wire fence perform better in your situation?
Welded Wire Fences
There are galvanized before weld (GBW) wire fencing materials that will keep your pets and children in the yard. For a longer lasting and more durable product you can use either galvanized after weld (GAW) or stainless steel fence. Vinyl coated welded fences make an attractive and long lasting garden fence. Choose from an extensive variety of wire gauges and mesh sizes. Smaller meshes are ideal for animal cages and wildlife exclusion barriers. Welded wire fences are both versatile and practical.
Woven Wire Fences
A fence made from woven wire can be strong and heavy enough to contain wildlife and livestock. There are different styles, heights and mesh opening sizes designed for specific types of animals - from tall deer and wildlife fences to short hog wire fences. Flexibility with strength are two important characteristics of woven wire fence. Chicken wire or hexagonal mesh is woven from lighter gauge wire. Black PVC coating ensures both durability and an attractive appearance, providing protection for your poultry and fowl as well as your garden.
Which type of wire fence is best for you? Think about its intended use, its appearance and how long you want it to last before you make a decision. And remember there are many more possible choices than what's on display at your local big box store.
Posted by Duncan Page on Thu, Dec 22, 2011
A new type of wood sand fence and snow fence has been developed and patented by James H. Kirby and the University of South Florida. It is manufactured with the same type of wood and the same type of wire used in traditional sand/snow fence. This new style increases the amount of sand or snow accumulated downwind of the fence.
Traditional wood snow fence and wood sand fence use rectangular 3/8" thick by 1-1/2" wide slats. The new style uses triangular pieces of wood made by sawing a 1" x 1" x 48" in half on the diagonal. This triangular shape is better at disrupting the air flow as it passes through the fence. And it will do so regardless of wind direction by creating "asymmetrical vortexes" in the air. Air born particles become trapped in the vortex and fall to the ground.
Traditional rectangular slats are more limited in their ability to disrupt air flow. They are usually aligned at right angles to the prevailing winds. If the wind blows parallel to the fence line, little if any sand or snow will collect. The shape of the pieces in the new wood sand and snow fence allows the fences to work well in any wind from any direction.
See a more detailed presentation of this new wood and wire sand and snow fence, including suggestions for deployment.
Posted by Frank Langone on Tue, Aug 30, 2011
During the hurricane season your fence can be easily damaged. Strong winds can blow down large branches. Entire trees can be uprooted, landing on your fence. Often the damage can only be repaired by replacing what was there with new fencing materials.
Hopefully this hurricane season will pass you and your family and cause no damage to your home and property. If your home is spared but your property and yard were not so fortunate, you will have to take down the damaged wire and replace it.
If wood post and rail with attached wire was damaged you can replace the wire with perhaps a vinyl coated wire for long life. 2"x3" or 2"x4" and smaller meshes are available that will keep your pets and children securely in the yard. Many people prefer black vinyl coated wire as it blends in very well with the background. It does not stand out as galvanized wire tends to do.
Did your pool wire get damaged? Your pet fencing? Your garden fence? Fencing materials protecting your flowers and shrubs, especially from deer? There are many different types of welded and woven wire meshes available in both galvanized and vinyl coated finishes. And there is a wide variety of plastic meshes from which to choose.
If you decide to do these repairs yourself, remember that there are many types of fencing materials available that you will never find in your local big box store. Why not go for something different and better?
Are you having difficulty finding the type of fence you want?
Are you frustrated by the absence of knowledge about fencing materials encountered in most retail stores?
Posted by Duncan Page on Wed, Aug 24, 2011
This video explains living snow fence and the research SUNY-EFS is doing in New York.
Read the text here.
Do you think living snow fence will ever replace the tradional wood or newer plastic snow fences?
Which would you rather see along the roadside?
Posted by Frank Langone on Thu, Aug 18, 2011
Forget to do some fencing - on purpose or otherwise?
Has the summer heat and humidity held you back?
You can catch up now as cooler weather approaches and makes outdoor work seem a lot less unpleasant to tackle.
Do you need to replace or put in a new fence for the yard, animal enclosure or to protect children when outside in the yard?
Fencing materials can be galvanized or vinyl coated, small or larger openings and various heights. For long life and appearance consider vinyl coated wire. Black especially blends into the background and almost disappears rather than boldly stand out.
Consider the terrain you will be fencing - is it level or uneven? You will want to use a fence that conforms or "racks" if the ground is uneven. On level ground a welded wire fence is perfectly suitable as there is no give to it. Welded wire is not "rackable".
Again, vinyl coated wire is available for a pleasing appearance. Which type of fence material works best for you?
Posted by Duncan Page on Mon, Jun 13, 2011
Watch this video and learn how to build a simple, functional and attractive garden fence using wood and welded wire mesh.
In this garden fence example, a 2"x4" welded mesh was used. Other types of fencing materials would also work well:
- Galvanized before weld or weave (GBW)
- 1"x1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
- 1"x2" mesh, 14 gauge
- 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge
- Galvanized after weld or weave (GAW) - longer lasting
- 1/2"x1" mesh, 16 gauge
- 1"x1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
- 1"x2" mesh, 14 gauge
- 1" hex mesh, 18 gauge
- Vinyl coated - longest lasting
- 1"x1" mesh, 16 gauge or 14 gauge
- 1"x2" mesh, 14 gauge
- 1" hex mesh, 20 gauge
Which type of mesh would work best around your garden?
Posted by Frank Langone on Wed, May 18, 2011
Do you need fencing materials to:
- protect children as they play securely in your yard?
- keep pets from running all over the neighborhood?
- prevent "critters" from entering your garden to eat your plants?
- define your property or boundary line?
- keep deer and other wildlife away from your trees?
- prevent gophers from destroying your lawn and plantings?
Are you looking for the right kind of fencing that will do the job? Many varieties and styles of fence are available for your consideration and needs: galvanized, vinyl coated, woven, welded.
You might want to think about black or green vinyl coated wire as an excellent barrier to go on your post and rail fence. If you wish the wire to blend in with the background and not stand out, black is the way to go.
Welded wire fencing materials are available in a variety of mesh opening sizes such as 2"x4", 2"x3", 1.5"x4", 1"x2" and 1"x1". Wire gauges range from light weight 20 gauge to heavy weight 10.5 gauge.
Woven wire fence products come in a wide range of styles, from 1" hexagonal chicken wire up to 10' tall heavy deer fence with large openings.
Figure out your needs.
- Do you need a large or a smaller mesh?
- Are you trying to keep something in or out?
- How many feet will you need to do the job right?
- What height is required?
- Is your land flat or does the terrain vary?
- Do you want to install the fencing materials yourself?
- Would it be better to have it installed by a reputable fence company?
Many possibilities are out there. The choices are yours.
What has been most difficult for you when trying to decide which type of fencing material to use?
Are you aware of all the possibilities that are available that you will never find at your local retail store?