Garden Fence:
Defending Your Garden with a Fence
by Nick Rogers
A lot of folks view gardening as a hobby. I like to think of it more as a sport. A hobby is a nice relaxing pastime that helps you chill out and enjoy life. And you bet that's gardening, but there's another element involved which almost makes it seem competitive. And I'm not talking about garden competitions between other humans!
Ever felt like gardening is a match between you and nature? More specifically, nature as pest animals and critters. Deer, the evil little squirrel who evades everything you throw at it, and a host of other rodents that love to tear apart your hard work. As the gardener, you're on the defense trying to keep the animals from scoring.
And you can't say defense without saying "fence."
There are many designs, shapes, and sizes of fences. The idea of the fence is simple: impenetrable perimeter around the garden. Unfortunately, it can be easier said than done. Nature’s offensive line is unrelenting and clever when it comes to breaking through manmade barriers.
Let's begin by weeding out all those nasty burrowers. Make sure that your fence extends at least several inches into the ground. That way, when the squirrels, rabbits, and other shallow burrowing rodents try to get carte blanch on your salad bar, they can’t dig below it.
The next thing is the height of the fence. A two-foot tall fence may keep the squirrels away, as long as they can't climb it or otherwise "fall" in. But if you live in a rural area you may have to contend with deer. With their long necks, deer can reach over that fence and go to town on your garden. If you live in deer country, a four-foot high fence is more than enough to keep these animals at bay.
Now let's talk about holes in our defence... namely, holes in the fence! Sometimes when a gardener puts together fences she leaves large openings (some rabbits can jimmy through an opening smaller than two inches in diameter). Try some chicken wire to seal the gaps if you're employing a wood timber fence. It may look ugly, but it keeps your perimeter intact.
And who says fences have to be ugly? With a little creativity, you can make the fence almost seem to belong in the garden. Maybe paint is what you'll need, or a handful of little decorations, or some wood carvings either stuck to the fence or carved from the wood. There are many options... the only limit is your imagination.
Please click here to read about one redneck's story and keeping deer at bay.
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