Gardens can be destroyed by a variety of critters – such as squirrels, deer, dogs, and groundhogs – and you’ll need different kinds of fencing to keep out each different kind of animal. If you don’t know what kind of animal is plaguing your garden, you’ll need to figure it out before adding garden fencing so that you use the proper kind.
Once you’ve got an idea of what animal is eating your plants, you can use this information to determine what kind of fencing you’ll need to keep it out of your garden.
1. Squirrels
Squirrels are attracted to the readily-available food supply in your garden, so a good way to keep them away is to use fencing that will prevent them from seeing the food source in the first place. A wooden fence placed around your garden is a good way to do so.
Of course, squirrels don’t always approach your garden from the ground. If you have nearby trees that they can access your garden from, you’ll also need to cover your plants with netting or chicken wire. You can also try surrounding your garden with an electric fence. As soon as they touch the fence, they’ll learn that it’s not a good idea to approach your garden again.
2. Deer
You can use any kind of fencing to keep deer out of your garden but wooden fences work best. This is because – just like squirrels – deer are attracted to plants that they can see. The overpopulation of deer in many regions of the United States have led to dwindling food supplies for deer. Because of this, deer have developed the boldness to wander onto properties in search of food and even jump over fences in order to obtain it. To deter them from jumping your garden fence, you’ll need to install a fence that’s 8-10 feet tall.
3. Cats and Dogs
A chicken wire fence is likely all you’ll need to keep your pet cats and dogs out of your garden. However, if your garden is being plagued by feral cats that want to chew on your plants or use your garden as a litter box, they may jump into your garden from a nearby tree or fence. In this case, you may want to add a few more deterrents, such as motion-activated alarms or sprinklers
4. Groundhogs and Other Burrowers
If your garden is plagued by burrowing animals – such as gophers, chipmunks, groundhogs, moles, raccoons, rabbits, or opossums – then the height of the fence is not the problem. The best approach to keep these animals out of your garden is to use a wooden fence. The bottom of the fence should be about 2-3 feet below the plant bed.
Another option is to use electric fencing. This will deter any animal that touches the fence and help you avoid burrow holes in the area around your garden.
While these are good deterrents, the only surefire method for keeping these critters out of your garden is to trap them and release them in a different location.
5. Raccoons and Other Climbers
Creatures such as groundhogs, raccoons, and opossums are just as good at climbing as they are at burrowing. For these creatures, you’ll need to not only bury the bottom of the wooden fence, but also add a preventative measure to the top of your garden fence. Adding a floppy top such as mesh to the wooden fencing will cause them to fall back down every time they try to climb over the fence. You can also opt for an electric wire at the top of your garden fencing.
If you need a residential or commercial garden fenced off, call Rustic Fence. They have been providing homeowners and farms with quality fencing since 1964. Rustic Fence serves Dallas/Fort Worth and many surrounding counties.
