The Fence Post

Plan Your Garden 

Hello to all you passionate gardeners!  Are you planting a garden?

         Do you already have a garden that you are getting ready for the season?

                          Do you have some unwelcome visitors--well, animals--that are sampling the produce?

Your fence built with welded or woven wire mesh - either galvanized or vinyl coated

• Use a smaller mesh, especially at the bottom of the fence, to keep smaller animals from getting into your garden.
• Bury 12" or more of the fence underground to discourage burrowing.
• Bend 12" or more of the fence to the outside of your garden laying it on top of the ground for an effective protecting apron.

• Black vinyl coated 1" hex is ideal - black blends with the background making the fence virtually invisible.
• PVC coating adds years of life to the fence.
• The wire is easy to work with.
• Rolls are available in different widths to suit your needs - from 12" through 90".

• Vinyl coated 19 gauge wire welded into ½" x ½" mesh will discourage the smallest animals.
• Vinyl coated extends the lifetime of the fence.
• Rolls are 100' in length.
• Three heights are available: 24", 36" and 48".

Larger mesh fences - 2" x 2", 2" x 3" and 2" x 4" with a combination of smaller mesh "ground wire."

• The smaller mesh gives protection where it's really needed.
• You have greater strength in the higher sections.

There are many possibilities that allow you to be creative in your approach. Here's a video with one man's solutions:

You will reap the benefits with some advanced planning. And! Check out this video blog for another helpful garden fence tutorial.

First, what does your landscape require?

As the seasons change, are you contemplating any projects that will require fencing - a play area for children, lawn and garden fence, pet fencing, swimming pool? Planning now can save you a lot of time and legwork when you are ready to start the work.

There are many varieties of wire fencing and meshes to be considered and evaluated before you can narrow it down to your final selection. What are the specific needs and requirements of your project? 

And some questions to think about--

• Do you want an economical fence?
• Should your fence last a long time or is it temporary?
• Do you want the practicality and utility of a galvanized wire fence?
• Is the durability, longer lifetime and attractive appearance of vinyl coated mesh important?
• Why do you need a fence?
• How many feet of fencing are required?
• Are there specific requirements that determine the size of the mesh openings?
• What are the height requirements for the fence?
• If this is a DIY project, do you have the knowledge and information necessary to do the job properly?
• How many posts will you need?
• Do you want to use steel or wood posts?
• Will you need a gate?
• Are there any special tools you will need for installation?
• Is the fence line cleared?
• Will you need to clear or prepare the enclosed area?

Once you have answers to these questions, you will have made a great start on your project.

Do you have any more specific questions you need to be answered? Call us and we'll listen.

What do your animals need?

Are you planning to get some animals that will need cages or pens?

Do you already have animals and need to upgrade, enlarge or improve their containment?

From hamsters to horses, birds to buffalo - there is a welded or woven wire mesh fencing available to do the job right.

Small Animal Enclosures

There are galvanized before, galvanized after, and vinyl-coated meshes available.

• Cages for canaries, for example, can be made using light weight galvanized after weave 1/2" hex netting
• For larger birds, welded meshes such as 1/2" x 1", 1" x 1", 1" x 2" and 1/2" x 3" can be used to make cages
• Chicken, turkeys and game birds require larger pens; galvanized after weave and vinyl coated hex netting works well for the sides and you can use welded wire meshes for ground wire; the extra galvanizing and vinyl coating extend the life of the wire
• Cages for rabbits, hamsters and the like can be made using 1/2" x 1"and 1" x 2" welded meshes; galvanized after weld products, when used, will last longest
  

Larger Animal Enclosures

Stronger meshes made from heavier gauge wire are required, and the opening size of the mesh can be larger.

• Dogs - smaller dogs can be contained with 16 gauge 2" x 2" woven or 2" x 3" welded wire mesh; for large dogs, 2" x 4" mesh works well; this is available in woven 12.5 gauge and welded 14, 12.5 and 11 gauge galvanized before, galvanized after and vinyl coated
• Horse corrals can be made with 12.5 gauge flexible woven horse fence in a 2" x 4" or diamond mesh pattern
• Secure enclosures for sheep and goats can be made using 12.5 gauge 4" x 4" woven mesh
• For ostrich & emu pens use 12.5 gauge 2" x 4" woven mesh
• Use field fence for cow pastures; there are different choices of 1047 style available
• Extra tall (up to 10') woven fences are excellent for deer and wildlife containment or exclusion

Uncomplicated, Effective 

A video to inspire you to make your own homemade lighting display.

Planning some projects as the holidays approach?  Thinking about what type of fence or mesh to use?

Cages - for rabbits and other small animals

• 16 gauge, 1/2" x 1" mesh - use Galvanized After Weld (GAW) for the bottom of cages
• 14 gauge, 1" x 2" mesh - use Galvanized Before Weld (GBW) for the top and sides of cages.

• Hexagonal mesh netting, also known as poultry fence
• Flexible - easy to work with and cut into shapes
• Galvanized - 1/2", 1" and 2" meshes
• Black vinyl coated - 1" mesh                                                                                                  
• Small mesh hardware cloth
• 1/2" x 1/2" and 1/4" x 1/4" meshes
• galvanized and vinyl coated

• Protect your shrubs and plantings
• Heavy duty protection with woven galvanized deer and wildlife fence - height up to 10'
• Black vinyl coated 1" hexagonal netting blends into background - up to 7' height
• Unobtrusive, 7-1/2' light weight black extruded plastic 2" x 1-3/4" mesh deer fencing

Bird Cages

• Galvanized and vinyl coated wire mesh
• 1/2" hexagonal mesh
• Galvanized After Weave (GAW)
• Excellent cage mesh for canaries and other small birds
• 48" x 25', 50' and 150' rolls

Dog Kennel Flooring

• 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" mesh
• Heavy 12.5 gauge GAW core wire
• Thick black or green PVC coating
• 36" and 48" x 25' rolls are available (green only)

• Excellent tool and fastener for building cages and other projects
• Connects and secures pieces of mesh

Of course, these items can be used year round as well.

Can you think of additional items?

Are there more uses for the products listed here?

Possibilities to Explore

If you have decided you want to use a vinyl coated welded wire mesh for your fence project because of its long lifetime and more attractive appearance, there are several options available to you.

Hoping for a Lightweight Fence?

Consider using 3" x 2" mesh, welded from 16 gauge wire. There are three different heights: 24", 36" and 48". Rolls are 50 feet long. 24" is available in green, 36" and 48" are available in both black and green.

Some of the uses for this light weight fencing: tack it to a wood post and rail fence; keep small dogs in your yard; keep larger animals out of your garden; protect trees and shrubs.

Heavier Weight, Smaller Mesh Fencing

You have more choices: 1" x 1" mesh in 16 and 14 gauges; 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" mesh in 12-1/2 gauge; 2" x 2" and 1-1/2" x 4" in 14 gauge; 2" x 4" in 14, 12-1/2 and 11 gauges. All, except the 2" x 4" 12-1/2 gauge which is available in black only, are available in black and green. 14 gauge 2" x 4" rolls are 50" and 100' lengths.

• Black has become the most popular color to use because it seems to disappear or blend in with the background very well.

These fence meshes can be used for pet containment, children's play areas, yard fence and the 1" x 1" and 1-1/2" x 4" meshes meet swimming pool fence code requirements.