The Fence Post

Deterring Unwanted Garden Visitors

At Louis Page, we love tips that guard the time and effort we put into our gardens. 

And! If you've got some leftover mesh hanging around, don't toss it! Here's a blog with ideas on how to use it.

Hardware cloth: small welded wire mesh that can be used for a variety of projects at your place of business and at home. Find it in galvanized after weld or a very long-lasting vinyl-coated finish. Stainless steel hardware cloth is even tougher and also available.

Stopping Deer

Avoiding damage to your property from deer is best accomplished with a sturdy, well-maintained fence. There are some unique solutions to repelling deer using fencing and we begin with the fact that black is very difficult for deer to see. A deer will not risk jumping over a fence that uses black Bezinal-coated zinc-aluminum finish on the wire; it makes it very hard for them to discern the boundaries of the fence. In a single bound, deer can clear about 8 feet. The height and diameter of the black-coated wire of a 7-foot fence will cause enough confusion to send them rummaging for food elsewhere. A deer's capacity for flight is prodigious, and gauging risk to its limbs is an innate skill. An injury to a leg means becoming fodder to predators. For your part, the preparation and maintenance of a deer fence must include various factors:

• Make sure that the fence is tight to the ground to prevent the deer from crawling under the fence
• Vines that will inevitably grow on it should be cleared--the vines will eventually add definition to the fence which will aid the deer in clearing it 
• Keeping the fence in good repair is key as deer are quick to find where the fence has been damaged
• Gates mean access and must be kept closed especially before dusk

Twilight and Superior Night Vision

• Comparing the eyes and pupils of deer to humans, a deer's are larger on both counts
• The light-gathering capacity works out to be about nine times that of human vision
• The receptors of light in the back of a deer's eye (rods and cones) are accompanied by a reflective layer which to us appear to shine at night
• These receptors, the rods, cones, and the light which interact to create a deer's ability to have superior night vision means that it is at final count 18 times better than human eyesight at night (for our part, the capacity for detail during the day is superior to a deer's)  

Hence, a deer's most effective vision comes in low light. So, as our vision towards evening starts to dim, a deer's vision is just getting going. The shape of a deer's eye is more oval, maximizing objects on the horizon where danger may lurk, rather than from above (here's a reason why hunters that are elevated above the deer's primary source of reference have an advantage.) For a deer, the light from above can distract and this is why the black 7-foot fence is enough for them to avoid the risk of not clearing it--what's above them is simply not a usual source of threat from predators. 

The Mesh You Need

You'll find that black vinyl-coated hexagonal deer fence lasts a long, long time. The 20-gauge galvanized wire is woven into a 1" hex mesh, galvanized, and then coated with a tough, flexible, thick coating of black PVC tightly bonded to the wire. The resulting vinyl-coated deer fence is very corrosion resistant. It is also extremely resistant to cracking, chipping, and weathering and the inhibitors in the vinyl protect it from UV degradation. Another benefit of the black coating is how it makes the mesh blend in with the landscape. Call Louis Page (866) 328-5018 if you have more questions. 

Although the initial outlay may seem expensive, the most cost-effective plan to guard your outdoor investments is a deer fence and when considered over time, it becomes very cost-effective. 

Hinge Joint: A Wide Range of Applications

To enclose a large field safely and efficiently, Bekaert's hinge-jointed field fence comes through. This fence adapts well and hosts a wide variety of animals while remaining economical and extremely durable. Hinge joint field fence is specifically designed to withstand animal impacts: springing back and retaining its shape, therefore saving on maintenance and costly repairs. Another benefit is the graduated spacing it features with smaller openings approaching the ground, which keeps predators and small animals at bay. As for your particular set of criteria, don't hesitate to call Louis Page; we're always ready to assist you in making your selection. Here are three types available:

• Gaucho Pro Field Fence--1075 lb. breaking strength, high tensile wire, pre-installed gripple-action upon request, a variety of protective coatings, appropriate for grazing animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep, coming in an optional height of 78'' for deer exclusion. For professional applications.                                                                                                                                              
• Gaucho Field Fence--630 lb. breaking strength, high tensile wire, gripple-action upon request, Class 3 coating, appropriate for grazing animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep.                                                                                                                                                                 
• Classic Field Fence--a variety of breaking strength options, Class 3 and Class 1 coatings, crafted for economy and efficiency. 

We also have another blog called "Woven Wire Fence Knots" that may be helpful to you in choosing the right style of field fence. 

Here's a helpful video, "Installing Hinge Joint," from our friends at Bekaert:

High Tensile Wire: Impressive Benefits

• Lighter in weight, but stronger (thanks to its tensile strength)
• Won't sag; stays put
• Less need for tensioning 
• Smaller gauge/diameter of the wire is more efficient (especially compared to heavier low carbon wire)
• Though stiffer, ultimately, installation is easier because it doesn't have to be stretched as hard as low tensile wire; tension it and it's ready to go
• Fewer posts are needed thanks to its strength and vertical stay wires
• Springs back with animal impacts; it has give but retains its shape

High Tensile Wire: Thinner is Stronger

As you'll see toward the end of this video, four wires with a similar gauge have very different breaking strength based on the carbon content:

High Tensile Highlights 

A fixed knot fence is effective on challenging terrain and remains rigid between posts. The .64% carbon content steel wire used in a fixed knot fence is noticeably thinner. However, strong as it is, this high tensile wire would be lost without a protective coating. This is why the requisite Class 3 galvanization, with its anti-corrosion properties, is added to offset steel's natural disintegration which enhances its cost-efficiency by delaying repair and replacement. High tensile wire is the choice when a long-term fence solution is required as it remains a strong, versatile answer to a variety of fencing needs. 

Low Carbon Drawbacks

Now, low carbon steel wire is easy to work with as well, (also known as mild steel) but it is prone to sagging, stretching, and breaking more easily than high carbon-content steel wire. The carbon content for low tensile wire is roughly .28%; while this type of fence is common, it remains a shorter-term answer.

Installation

Here's a comprehensive how-to from Bekaert that details the installation of a fixed knot fence:

Helping a tree to establish itself

The Swaying of a Tree

In extreme situations, wind can certainly cause damage but the wind is also one of the building blocks of a tree's development and strength. A tree swaying in the wind stimulates its root system; this stress also prompts the young tree to grow extra bark in the lower trunk. The normal stress of this swaying produces extra fibers which then increase the trunk diameter and therefore, the tree's strength. 

Tipping

Trees that have been grown in a container with a small or restricted root ball may need steadying early on until the roots develop. For the most part, however, the root balls of trees can establish themselves. Certain environments may leave trees more vulnerable to high winds such as new housing tracts and areas with sandy soil. Top-heavy unsupported larger trees with underdeveloped root systems may tip or move, interrupting the establishment of fine roots important for nutrient absorption. Good-sized evergreen trees may be prone to tipping. Staking or guying may be advised in these situations. Consulting a trained arborist for advice is recommended. 

Here's a short video demonstrating some of these principles:

Guiding People

A secondary benefit from staking: visually, people are alerted to a young tree and are at least temporarily barred from approaching the tree.  Plus, those using various types of lawn equipment (particularly mowers and weed whackers) are less like to run into the tree and cause damage, especially in its fragile first year. 

Trees can be subject to unique stresses, particularly in cities or urban areas prone to vandalism, and may be candidates for guying. If vandalism is a concern, then guying does provide a level of security. Trees are not cheap, particularly those that have been carefully cultivated and are worth protecting. 

Flexible and Temporary Protection

The area in contact with the tree--a tree collar is wrapped around the young tree and should be a flexible, woven material that does not abrade the bark. This collar should not stay on too long, usually not longer than a year, as the tree has not been able to strengthen itself by the usual exercise provided by swaying in the wind. Though stabilized, the guying should not be too tight, still allowing for some sway. 

Here's a step by step instruction video that helps illustrate the process: