The Fence Post

Shielding Your Garden

Ah, spring arrives and you look forward to getting your garden growing. Sometimes the loveliest of creatures can set you back. Will you need to protect vegetables, flowers, plants, fruits, trees, ponds, your garden, and other areas from invasion by our feathered friends? The solution? An effective bird barrier.

Lightweight Meshes 

Tenax extrudes black polypropylene into effective bird barriers. These small opening lightweight meshes are specifically designed to protect your hard work. They can also be used as an effective method of erosion control on newly seeded slopes. In the fall, spread them over a leaf pile to keep them from blowing away in windy weather. There are several different mesh sizes and strengths available. Large roll size eliminates the need to join several pieces together.

Rust and Rot Proof 

A lightweight, inexpensive, rust proof, rot proof, UV and chemical resistant netting that is easy to handle and install. This black bird barrier netting comes in two mesh sizes:

    3/4" x 3/4": 14' x 100', 14' x 500', 14' x 1,000', 14' x 5,000', 15.5' x 700'

    3/8" x 3/8": 13' x 820'

S-31

A heavier weight, stronger, longer-lasting bird barrier netting.

   5/8" x 3/4" mesh: 14' x 5,000', 17 x 5,000'

Strong Woven Mesh

Knit from multiple strands of black polypropylene, this UV stabilized netting is long-lasting, soft, flexible, and strong. Mesh openings are hexagonal in shape. These products are thicker than the extruded bird barrier netting mesh.

   1/2" mesh: 25' x 100'

   3/4" mesh: 25' x 100', 50' x 150', 50' x 200'

   1" mesh: 12' x 100', 25' x 100', 50' x 150'

Is your garden under attack? How do you protect your fruits and vegetables?

A Lifetime of Service

A gabion is a welded wire basket or cage filled with earth or rocks. It is typically used to build a support or abutment. Gabion mesh is welded from heavy 11 gauge wire. The mesh has 3" x 3" openings. Usually, the mesh is Galvanized After Weld (GAW), providing long life and excellent rust protection. In situations where gabion baskets will be exposed to water and constant moisture, mesh with a thick, rugged coating of PVC is recommended. The vinyl overlays the GAW wire and assures an even longer lifetime.

Standard or Custom Sizes

Gabion mesh is also available in panels that are assembled to make baskets. The standard basket size is 3' x 3' x 6'. For larger baskets, 9' and 12' lengths are also available. And for specific jobs, custom sizes can be special ordered.

A Variety of Configurations and Uses

The rectangular wire mesh gabion baskets are shipped flat. They are fully assembled and filled with rock at your project site to form flexible, permeable, monolithic structures such as retaining walls for commercial, industrial, and road projects. They are also used for erosion control, bank stabilization, channel linings, and weirs. Gabions can be used in both residential and commercial projects.

A Short History

From Wikipedia: Gabion (from Italian gabbione meaning "big cage"; from Italian gabbia and Latin cavea meaning "cage") are cages, cylinders, or boxes filled with soil or sand that are used in civil engineering, road building, and military applications. For erosion control, caged riprap (a quantity of stones, broken or not) is used. For dams or foundation construction, cylindrical metal structures are used. In a military context, earth or sand-filled gabions are used to protect artillery crews from enemy fire. Leonardo da Vinci designed a type of gabion called a Corbeille Leonard ("Leonard basket") for the foundations of the San Marco Castle in Milan.

Have a project where gabions can be used? 

Blocking those Bunnies

This video shows you how to protect your garden by installing a wire fence. This is a good example of a garden fence that will keep rabbits at bay, with your plants safe and secure for a long time.

Did you find this video helpful?  Here's another gardening blog that will help you protect your plantings.

Do You Know What Kind of Mesh to Use?

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 wire 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.

The Characteristics of Your Fence 

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 and strength are two important characteristics of woven wire fences. 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.

Often there's a poor selection at the big box stores. Best to look further.   

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...most often their limited selection is just expedient and relying on the typical foreign suppliers.