The Fence Post

A Physical Barrier That Deer Cannot Jump Over

Crawl Under

or Crawl Through

Be Exclusive

Damage done to vineyards by deer can be both extensive and expensive. Several types of fence materials are available that can help reduce and possibly eliminate the deer problem in the vineyard. There are lightweight fences made from extruded plastic mesh. Fences that are made with single strand wires, and woven wire mesh are also available. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic Fence Materials

Made from black, UV stabilized polypropylene, this extruded fence material has a mesh opening size of 2" x 1-3/4". The size of the rolls is 7-1/2' high x 164' long. The black color makes this deer fence virtually invisible when installed. Lightweight rolls are easy to work with. Although this fence can be torn and ripped if a deer charges through it or becomes entangled, the repair is fairly easy.

Easy to Use--Single Strand Wire

The fence material used for these fences is 12-1/2 gauge high tensile wire. There are two finishes available: Class 3 galvanized and zinc/aluminum with a black painted finish. Both have superior resistance to rust and corrosion and will last for years. Single strand wire fences for vineyards can be either vertical or slanted. Seven strands of wire are often used. The angled fence takes up more space. You can watch a video showing one installation. These fences are fairly inexpensive and easy to set up. 

A Fence that Endures

Woven wire fence materials for vineyards are available in a variety of heights, from 4' up to 10'. Woven from 12-1/2 gauge high tensile wires with heavy Class 3 galvanizing, these fences will last for years. Some specifications are available with a high rust and corrosion-resistant zinc/aluminum finish that is painted black. More attractive than bright galvanized wire, the black color becomes virtually invisible against the background. Woven fences are very strong and will not unravel. They are the most expensive and the hardest to install. Still, if you are a vintner, the security of knowing that your vines and grapes are safe is well worth this investment of time and resources.

Have you used any of these fence materials to address the deer problem?  Do you prefer one type over another?                                   

What Kind of Garden Fence Do You Need?

Will you build a new garden fence this year?

Are you wondering what kind of fences will work well in your garden?

There are several different types of fences available that are excellent for gardens.

Welded Wire

These fences offer the most choices. They're available in a wide variety of:

• gauges - 16, 14 and 12½
• mesh sizes - ½" x ½", ½" x 1", 1" x 1", 1" x 2", 2" x 2" and 2" x 4"
• finishes - galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW) and vinyl coated (VC)

In addition to the standard specifications listed above, there are other styles of fences that are designed for use in and around the garden. Some of these have smaller mesh openings at the bottom of the fence to keep out small animals.

Black Vinyl-Coated Hexagonal Netting - Effective, Long-Lasting

Lighter in weight than welded wire products.

• gauges - 20 and 18 gauges
• mesh sizes - 1" and 2"
• finishes - GBW, GAW, and VC

• gauges - 14.5 and 12½
• mesh sizes - 1" x 6" through 7" x 12"
• finishes - galvanized, zinc/aluminum, and black-painted

Apron Fence - A Very Strategic Barrier

These fences have a 12" apron at the bottom of the roll. Lay this on top of the ground to form a barrier. Animals cannot dig under the fence and enter your garden.

• gauge - 17
• mesh size - 1½"
• finishes - GBW and VC

These fences are labor savers. There is no need to dig a trench and bury the wire. Vegetation grows up through the apron, securely attaching it to the ground. The animals trying to dig into your garden will not realize that they must start their digging 12" away from the fence.

Hardware cloth - Strong and Durable

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

What kinds of fences have you used to protect your garden?  Are you considering all the different types of fences that are available before making your choice?  Do you prefer one type over another?

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?

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?

A nuisance in the fields, gardens, highways...

It is common knowledge that deer have become a problem which seems to intensify every year.  Deer have been forced into closer contact with humans as their natural habitat has decreased. Also, the numbers of their main predators, wolves and cougars, have dwindled over the years. Hence, their population is on the rebound. As a result, deer have become not only a nuisance but also, in some situations, a threat to human life.

• Hungry deer invade gardens and areas with expensive plantings.
• The impact on agriculture - farms and orchards - is extensive and expensive.
• The USDA estimates that total deer damage from auto collisions and crop and timber losses
  reaches at least $1 billion a year
• Deer on the roads cause many accidents, often fatal to both deer and people.
• There are 1.5 million car accidents with deer each year, resulting in human fatalities, and personal injuries.
• When deer are present there is an increased risk to humans of Lyme disease spread by ticks.
• Deer overpopulation reduces the quality of habitat. The resulting lack of food can lead to unhealthy diseased deer.

The population increases have been in both urban and suburban areas. Forested areas have suffered, too. The over-browsing of the undergrowth of trees robs birds of habitat and disrupts new growth of trees: disrupting seedlings, buds, while the rubbing of antlers on trees can destroy them completely.

It's not always straightforward. A few possible means of control are:

      Exclusion  

• Deer and wildlife fence barriers
• Individual trees and plants protection
• Plants deer dislike                                                                                                                                             

      Deterrents                                                                                                                                                               

• Devices to scare deer with sound or visual stimuli
• Dogs
• Repellents using odors deer dislike                                                                                                                   

      Population management                                                                                                                                       

• Hunting
• Culling - thinning out weak unhealthy animals
• Fertility control

What do you think is the best solution for your particular deer problem?

Is there one solution that can address every situation? Is inaction the better strategy?