Good Fences Make Good Vegetables: Protecting Your Garden

About Me
A Privacy Fence

I was raised on a cattle ranch in the country. When I married my sweet spouse, I moved from the country to the suburbs. When I arrived at my new home, I couldn’t believe how close my neighbors’ houses were to mine. Have you recently moved from a rural area to a heavily populated subdivision in the suburbs? Perhaps you want to make your property more secluded from your neighbors. You can accomplish this important task by hiring a fence contractor. This professional can install a privacy fence around your property. On this blog, I hope you will discover the amazing benefits of installing a privacy fence in your backyard.

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Good Fences Make Good Vegetables: Protecting Your Garden

27 October 2014
 Categories: , Blog

Keeping your vegetable garden healthy and productive begins with the right fence. Animal pests, playing children, or just a forgetful pass with the weed wacker can damage your garden plants. Installing a fence protects the plants and gives the vegetable garden a neat and finished appearance.

Fencing Options

The type of fence you select depends on your preferred appearance and the purpose of the garden fence. Options include:

  • Low picket or decorative fences, if your main goal is to just set the vegetable garden separate from the rest of the yard. These fences won't keep animal pests out, but you can still see the garden from the rest of the yard.

  • Tall chain link, chicken wire, or mesh fences. These provide inexpensive options that keep out most animals, including rabbits to deer, while still providing a view of the garden.

  • Wooden board fences. Like chain link, a tall wooden fence can keep out larger animals, but you won't be able to see your garden through it. This option is more expensive than wire or chain link, but it works well if you want the garden area completely hidden from the rest of the yard.

Adding Strength

In many cases, plain wooden fence posts are sufficient for picket, wooden, or chicken wire fences. Chain link fences require metal posts. With any type of fence, you can add strength by using steel fence posts. These won't rot, and breakage isn't an issue if an animal pushes into the fence. In areas with high, straight-line winds, steel posts can keep your fence upright during a storm. Not only does this lessen the need for repairs, it also ensures the fence continues to provide a wind break that protects your garden plants.

Animal Control

There are some special considerations if the main purpose of the fence is animal control. Small, burrowing animals, like rabbits, can dig underneath the fence. Burying the bottom of the fence at least 12 inches deep can prevent them from reaching your tender vegetables. Metal fencing is the best option because the animals can't chew through it.

For deer, height is what keeps them out. A 6-foot-tall chain link or metal mesh fence will keep most deer out. If you must make the fence lower, a 5-foot-tall wood fence is the better option. Deer rarely jump a fence if they can't see to the other side.

No matter what type of fence you choose, like from Tmt One Time Fence Supply LLC, make sure it has a gate that works well. A broken gate or one that doesn't shut properly ruins the integrity of the fence. Even if you opt for wooden fence posts on the fence itself, use steel posts for the gate since they will have to put up with more wear and tear, along with the daily stress of use.