The Fence Post

Drifts Impacted

How can you prevent snow from drifting over fields, highways, and roads? Snow fence creates an effective barrier that slows wind-borne snow, causing it to drop downwind of the barrier. Both height and porosity of the fence have an impact on the size of the drifts. There are different types of snow fences:

Wood Slat Snow Fence

Wood slat snow fence is available in rolls, usually 48" x 50'. Fairly lightweight and easy to handle, this traditional type is made of wood laths woven together with four or five double strands of galvanized wire. The cost of a wood slat snow fence is determined by the species of wood used, the open space between slats, the thickness and width of the slats, and the gauge of the wire used. Rolls are available with a red-stained finish or a natural unstained finish. Other colors may be available on a custom order basis. There may be minimum quantity requirements.

Plastic Snow Fence

Flexible, lightweight, easy to handle and store, plastic mesh snow fence is gaining in popularity. The mesh of horizontal openings is designed to slow the wind carrying the snow, ensuring that the snow is dropped close to the downwind side of the fence. Rolls are 48" tall and are either 50' or 100' long. Black and orange colors of plastic snow fence are available.

Wood Board Snow Fence

This type of permanent snow fence is more common in areas that receive heavy snowfall and strong winds. 2" x 6" horizontal boards are secured to vertical posts. 1" x 6" or 1" x 8" vertical boards are sometimes nailed to the horizontal boards. This style can be as tall as 8½ feet. Angle braces are sometimes used to prop up the fence so that it will withstand heavy winds.

Living Snow Fence

Snow fences can be made by planting trees and shrubs in such a pattern that areas downwind are protected from drifting snow. These living fences require little if any maintenance. No rolls have to be taken down and stored. The fence acts as an attractively landscaped windbreak during the summer months.

Do you have problems with drifting snow? What is the best thing you have used to control the problem?

Pick a Holiday, Grab Some Chicken Wire

Do you need a lightweight wire mesh for making different seasonal holiday projects?

Vinyl-Coated Hex Netting Wire Mesh--A Variety of Sizes

Consider vinyl coated hex netting wire mesh. It is available in 1" mesh. Rolls are 150' long and come in heights from 12" to 84". 24", 36" and 48" widths are also available in 50' rolls. For maximum height, if needed, 90" comes in 100' rolls.

Hardware Cloth--Lightweight with Smaller Openings 

If you want smaller openings, you can use ½" and ¼" wire mesh products. Also known as hardware cloth, these meshes come in both galvanized and vinyl coated finishes. Galvanized rolls in both mesh sizes are available in 24", 36" and 48" widths in either 50' or 100' long rolls. Vinyl coated rolls are only 100' in length. ½" mesh is also available in 60" and 72" x 100' rolls in both galvanized and vinyl coated finish.

Both Hex netting and hardware cloth meshes are:

• durable
• lightweight
• easy to cut
• easy to handle
• perfect for outdoor use
• easy to work with when making different shapes and forms

There are other mesh sizes and wire gauges available in galvanized or vinyl coated finishes for cage making and other projects.

What types of projects can you think of that could use any of these meshes?

Surprising Chicken Wire

Here's a video to get your creative juices flowing:

They're so Quiet, Beautiful, and Unmanaged

As deer become overabundant in some areas of the country, there are some unfortunate results:                 

• The diversity of the forest understory is reduced
• Native species of flora must increasingly compete with non-natives
• New growth and seedlings are damaged or eaten
• Smaller trees are damaged by deer rubbing against them
• With less diversity comes fewer songbirds as intermediate forest vegetation is lost

The presence of deer is becoming obvious. The intensity of the assault on your trees and shrubs seems to increase every year. In their search for fodder, your plantings become a readily available supply of food, replacing what is available during the warmer growing months.

Pruning That You Don't Want

Are you frustrated as you watch the deer eat and destroy the greenery on your property?

And are you discouraged by the sight of the trees you planted being nibbled and stripped?

Addressing the problem is next, but how to proceed? Some answers:

Your Plants and Trees Protected

Deer fencing can protect your trees and shrubs. You can use it to surround individual plantings. Deer fence can also be used as a protective perimeter fence around your entire property. In both cases, you prevent deer from having access to what you want to protect.

Three types of deer fence available:

1. Galvanized high-tensile woven wire fence, also known as deer and wildlife fence, is heavy, very strong, and highly effective. 330' rolls are available in different heights from 48" through 120", these fences offer the best protection. Some sizes are available with wire that is painted black. The black color enables the wire to blend with the background making the fence virtually invisible. The horizontal and vertical wires are securely locked together by a third wire in a "fixed knot" construction.
                                                                                                                                                                   
2. Black vinyl-coated woven wire deer fence is made from 20 gauge, 1" hexagonal mesh. Basically chicken or poultry wire that has been coated with a thick layer of black PVC, this lighter weight fence can be used as an effective barrier. Lighter and easier to work with than the deer and wildlife fence, the underlying wire is protected from rust and corrosion. Rolls are 150' long and up to 84" tall. 90" height is available in 100' rolls.
                                           
3. Black polypropylene deer fence with a 2" x 1.75" extruded mesh is the easiest to work with and install. Particularly effective in protecting individual trees and shrubs, this versatile fence can also be used to secure larger areas. 7.5' x 164' rolls are lightweight. The black color makes this fence unobtrusive.

Which fencing solution would you choose or have you chosen?

Would you consider a fence, or do you have a different solution to the problem?

Medieval Times and "Withies"

Wattle fences may be one of the oldest types of fencing still in use today. They were used in England long before Medieval times. Traditionally the fences are built from straight, slender, flexible suckers or saplings of the willow tree up to 1½" diameter. After the leaves are stripped, the ”withies” are woven between upright wood posts. Willow is an ideal wood because it is pliable and resists splintering. Other species, such as alder, can also be used. A good resource is "How To Build A Wattle Fence" from the Alaska Botanical Garden or have a look at this helpful video:

Benefits, Uses 

Wattle fences are very strong and long-lasting. Willow posts often take root in the ground creating a living fence, perfect for containing animals and enclosing gardens and orchards. And the density of the fence makes an ideal windbreak.

 The rustic, handwoven appearance of wattle fencing adds an attractive defining touch to any yard, garden, or landscape. Some possible uses:

• arches
• towers
• trellises
• plant supports
• garden accents
• hurdles or fence panels
  
• attractive garden borders to line walkways
  

Create a Unique Landscape

Wattle construction is a great way to use trimmings for fence building materials. Instead of burning or destroying branches, use them in a creative way to beautify and add interest to your landscaping. Even though willow is the ideal wood, any type of wood can be used.

What ways can you think of using a wattle fence? 

Would you want a wattle fence in your yard? Interested in other unique styles of fencing? Have a look at this blog.

There are various types of woven wire mesh used at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts. 

When strength, height, and larger openings are required, woven fences that are galvanized are used. Deer and wildlife fence is a popular choice. Available in a 96" height, the mesh has graduated openings between the horizontal wires with smaller openings at the bottom of the fence. Vertical stay wires are 6" apart. 12½ gauge high-tensile wires and fixed knot construction make it very strong. Class 3 galvanizing ensures a long lifetime.    

This is a versatile fence that can be used for both four-legged and two-legged animals. 

Another type of fence used is 2" x 2" woven non-climb mesh. Made from lighter 16 gauge wire, it can be used to make enclosures for smaller animals and birds. The top and bottom wires are heavier 14 gauge. The square deal knots that are used hold the horizontal and vertical wires securely in place, yet the fence has some flexibility which allows it to conform to the irregularities of the ground. The mesh has an open feel and is easy to see through. In the picture below the fence is used for the vertical sides of the display.

These are some of the different types of fencing used at the two zoos. What types of wire meshes have you observed at the zoos you have visited?