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Deer Fence Is the Only Permanent Solution for Deterring Deer

Deer Fence Is the Only Permanent Solution for Deterring Deer

Choose Between Chicken Wire or Plastic Deer Fence

Different Methods to Stop the Deer

Whoever lives on the farm or in the area that is a natural habitat of deer knows how much damage this gorgeous animal can do. The classic garden fence isn’t in this case of a great help, and to protect the asset more serious approach has been required. To be an effective deterrent, the deer fence has to be between 6 and 8-feet high. The grown deer either can jump up to 8 feet or over a distance. If the fence is 6-feet high and inclined outward, it will provide enough resistance to stop the deer. Deer will meet resistance while trying to get under the fence. The high-voltage electric fence requires a complex installation but it will pay off on the large farms. For small-scale farmers and growers, it is not the cost-effective choice. There are several options for fencing that are convenient for home garden use. Polypropylene mesh of different strengths is weather-resistant, and the highest strength is strong enough to serve as the deer fence. Some existing fence can be upgraded with an additional fence on the top of it.  It is common practice to combine two standard woven-wire fences, one on the top of another to achieve the required height. This method isn’t recommended for its costs and demanding installation.

Deer Fence
The most used mesh to stop deer in small farms is the polypropylene mesh.

Animals of a Good Appetite

Like every other animal, deer also have some preferences when it comes to the plants they like to eat. They avoid some common flowers such as poppies, foxgloves or daffodils for their toxicity. The strong scent is also something that deters deer. Planting of the fragrant plants along the deer fence is an excellent idea. Deer will come to the fence and turn their noses up. Onion and garlic are sorts of vegetable that don’t attract deer. However, deer will visit a vegetable garden every time there is not enough of other food in their habitat. The problem is that the daily intake of food for a mature male can be from 6 to 10 pounds. It depends on the season and region. Most of the crops in the vegetable garden are eatable by the deer but their favorites are beans, lettuce, and cabbage which are common plants on farms. Early morning is a part of the day when you especially have to take a look on the deer fence. Deer feed at that time, and you can easily track the signs of their presence. Droppings, deep cylindrical hoof prints, and trampled crop point to recent visit. For the lack of the upper front teeth, they pull the plants and create a torn edge on stems and leaves. 

Fence in a crop field
The polypropylene mesh has different resistances, the one most used is that of the high resistance mesh.

Effective Physical Barriers

If you have noticed the deer presence in your garden, it is a high time to undertake the precautions measures. You have multiple choices to prevent them from feasting on your account. Building a deer fence as a physical barrier is highly recommended. It is the most effective method for which you can use plastic netting, chicken wire or floating covers. The point is always to stop the deer before they reach the plants. Covers are not convenient for higher crops but they do the job with lettuce, squash or bush beans. You have to be careful while placing the cover. The heavier wind can blow it away so you should anchor it tightly. Some deer species can jump up to 12 feet which affect the height of the fence. Extended fence or doubled fence in two rows will discourage any deer trying to reach your crop. It is recommended for the barrier fence not to be shorter than 8 feet. Tall, effective fence is the only reliable solution for the deer defense, although some shorter fences might deter them as well. Don’t take your chances with the shorter fence, and keep in mind that it doesn’t obstruct the beauty of your garden. 

 Barrier Fence
It is recommended to build a deer fence as a barrier and you can use plastic nets or chicken wire to prevent deer from reaching the plants.

Physical Barriers in Compare to Scaring Tactics

The Polypropylene deer fence is lightweight and easy to install. From the distance, it is almost invisible. A double fence consists of two parts. The inner one is supposed to be placed 3 to 5 feet from the outer one. Such fence can be shorter, and it will prevent deer from taking a leap. Pounding stakes can also serve as deterrents. Deer won’t jump unless they see a clear landing area in front of them. Deer can also crawl under the fence. It is important to install the fence on the small height off the ground to disable the entrance. Electric fencing can be combined with other kinds of barriers but the experienced professional should be engaged to install it. Solar charger for power supply saves money and is environment-friendly. As any other pest, deer are adaptable, and they are getting used to obstacles trying to find a new way to reach the desired vegetables. Scare tactics seem to be effective for the certain period of time. However, deer start soon to recognize it and ignore it. The high-frequency sound or chemical repellents aren’t the permanent solutions as well. Some of the repellents might be harmful to humans and other animals if applied to vegetables. Follow the label instruction by the letter to avoid any unwanted effect. Only the physical barrier is considered a good and effective solution. The investment will pay off. You should only think about the type of the deer fence which in the best way meets the requirements of your asset. 

Polypropylene deer fence
It is recommended to install the fence at a small height above the ground to prevent entry.

What can really help you to deter deer is to combine the fence with the plants that act as natural deterrents. Asparagus, garlic, rosemary, and oregano are welcomed in the garden as well as on the table. According to some farmers’ reports, deer dislike these plants.  

Deer Fence Netting for Effective Garden Protection

Deer Fence Netting for Effective Garden Protection

Why Do You Need Deer Fence Netting

Providing sufficient protection for your garden or small vegetable farm is a very important thing to do. If you have problems with deer, rabbits, birds and other animals, you need to consider putting up protective netting around your garden. Deer fence netting is a recommended method if you live in an area commonly frequented by deer. Bird netting is ideal for keeping birds away from your crops.

Plants Deer Like Best

There are certain plants that deer like to eat. If you are wondering why your garden is constantly under attack by these animals, you may have plants that they like to eat.

deer in park with deer fence
With the anti deer fence you avoid that the deer attack and eats your crops.

There are some plants that you may want to avoid planting if you do not want to get a regular visit from the deer herd. These plants include: knockout roses (deer love eating the blooms), host as, daylily, arborvitae, cherry trees, apple trees, yew, pansies, azaleas, redbud tree, and English ivy.

Deer-Resistant Plants

If you have some of the plants and trees mentioned above and you would not want to part with them, it would be a good idea to get some plants that resistant to Bambi’s relatives. Planting some of these can be a good first line of defense, which could provide a good barrier together with a sturdy deer fence netting system.

These deer-resistant plants include: Bleeding hearts, globe amaranth, Angelonia, Lamb’s ear, Lantanas, Lily of the Valleys, Russian sage, snapdragons, spider flowers, chaste trees, daphnes and shadbushes.

Deer Fence Netting Benefits

deer fence providing protection
The anti deer fence helps to your crops providing a good protection against deers , or other wild animals.

The need for deer fence is very much like with the need for poultry netting. Both netting systems are designed to protect livelihood. With poultry netting, you can protect your chickens from being attacked by predators. With deer netting, on the other hand, you would be protecting your plants from deer attack.

It should be taken into consideration though that putting up a netting system to keep deer away, your concern should also be with the deer. As much as possible, it would be best if you can use a netting system that would not hurt the animals. After all, the main objective of the fence is to just keep the garden safe from the deer, right?

A deer enclosure can be used to surround an entire garden or it can be small enough to fence in individual plants. The size of your deer fence should depend on whether you want to keep the animals totally away from your farm or yard, or if you simply want them to stay away from your beloved plants.

There are different types of materials used for deer fencing. You can go for plastic, metal, wood or a combination of these materials.

One important thing to remember when considering putting up deer fencing is that, it would be better if you can build a complete enclosure. It means that the fence should go all the way around the garden. It may be alright to just fence in one or two sides, especially so if you have seen the deer enter from those areas. But you must understand that if you decide to block an entry or two, the deer will be forced to adapt a new behavior. They would probably be deterred by the fence for a while, but soon they will follow the line. Eventually, they will figure out that the enclosure is not complete and there are openings that they can use as entry points.

Deer Fencing Types

There are several different types of fencing to keep the deer away. There is the traditional wire fencing, which is the cheap option. The problem with this fencing type is that it can be hard to maintain and it is unattractive. It is also not environment-friendly because it can wear down and rust easily, therefore endangering the deer who would try to pass. Keep in mind that you do not want to hurt the animals; you just want to keep them away from your precious garden.

deer fence netting
Exist many different types of deer fence providing a good protection against wild animals.

Another type of deer fencing is the polypropylene mesh. This type of fence is popular because it is almost indistinguishable from a distance. This means that it would not create an eyesore or block the view. It is also easy to attach to trees and quite flexible in case you would need to put it up in vegetated area.

There are different Polypropylene grades and it would be best to go for the higher grade because it is more stable and durable. Lower graded materials may not be able to stand up well once the deer decided to give it a try by pushing their way around or through the fence.

Installing electric fencing is another option, but this is not allowed in some regions. You may need to inquire with some local agencies first before you can consider this fencing option. The good thing about an electric fence is that it can completely keep the deer away once they have suffered from an initial electric shock. The bad thing about this option is that it needs regular maintenance and it may not be the safest option for families with small chicken and pets.

No matter what type of deer fence you choose, there are some things that you should keep in mind. First, deer need to be trained in avoiding the fencing line. The best thing that you can do is to deter the animal from the line by tying white streamers on the fence. Once the deer see the streamers, they would understand that they cannot enter and thus they would eventually change their paths and not bother your garden again. Another thing to remember is that you need to put up a fence that is at least seven feet high as these creatures can really jump high especially when they need nourishment.

Deer Fence – the Ultimate Solution to Deal with Deer Problem

Deer Fence – the Ultimate Solution to Deal with Deer Problem

Here’s how you can deal with wandering spotted visitors using a simple deer fence!

Owing to the availability of food in abundance in the heavily landscape suburbs across the New York region and other parts of the U.S., the population of deer have grown in the past few years. While this is good news from a fauna perspective, however, these spotted otherwise harmless friends, are also known for feasting on shrubs and flowers and are quite capable of being a menace for your backyard.

Residents of these regions have tried all means to fend off these spotted intruders, but to no avail. They have tried spraying repellents, deer resistant plants, ultrasonic devices etc, but the deer always wins over these. So now, a lot of residents are resorting to a simple, yet effective solution of putting up a big deer fence. Although, deer resistant noninvasive ground covers are also helpful to resist browsing by deer, but it is not a permanent solution as compared to the different variety of deer fence available these days.

Types of Deer Fencing Available

  1. Electric Fencing: This type of fencing is quite popular amongst the buyers as it is one of the cheapest deer fencing options that is available in the market. This type of deer fence acts more like a deer training tool and less like a barrier. The electric fencing uses baited line which lures and encourages deer to come towards it, and when they do come, it delivers a shock when they come too close to the line. It thus trains the animal by playing on its memory of the unpleasant shocks received after repeated visits, and thereby they become conditioned not to come back to the fence. However, this type of deer fence has its own flipside. Electric fences are comparatively high maintenance compared to other options. They are also not entirely safe if you install them in an area where your kids or pets are likely to wander. Electric fences are also quite low, so it is not too difficult for a deer to jump over it. Some deer may be willing to withstand a shock and may go through or under the fence as well. While, it may not be the best and only option to ward off deer, with proper maintenance it should last quite long and most importantly it is cost effective. You can also use a roll of plastic poly film weed barrier to keep your deer fence devoid of weeds, vines, and grass so that it is easy for you to use your lawn mower and it also makes it easier for you to remove the fence if you wish to during the off season.
  2. Polypropylene Deer Fence: This variety of deer fence is much more durable and also provides better obstruction compared to electric fencing. It is a mesh that comprises of a strong plastic polymer and it can resist extreme environmental conditions, chewing, and physical force applied by the animal. This type of fence is actually quite light weight and it is very easy to install as well. It is tall enough to dissuade deer from jumping over it and it is staked into the ground so that it cannot be dug at the bottom as well. Basically, you may consider this to be much more effective as a barrier compared to electric fence. Another advantage of poly fence is that it is not easily visible against the landscape, even when you look at it from a short distance. However, this type of deer fence is more expensive than the electric fence. The flipside of this type of deer fence is that it is not 100% chew proof and with enough pressure and consistent chewing, it may tear off and holes may be formed in it eventually. Poly deer fence has a life of about ten to twenty years. If you plan to install one for your backyard, it is recommended that the fence should be at least 7.5’ in height.

    a garden with a fence for deer protection
    The anti deer fence is a resistant protection against the attack of wild animals.
  3. Steel Hex Fencing: This variety of deer fence is a mesh fence made out of galvanized steel wire. Being made with galvanized steel, it is obviously chew proof and the hex design of the wire makes it stronger than a usual square design or pattern. Since, the steel hex fence is PVC coated, it is able to withstand any kind of damage caused by extreme weather. Similar to the poly fence, this fence is also not easily visible from short distances and it does not upset the look of your landscape. This variety of fence offers a more permanent solution; however, the installation can be challenging compared to an electric or a poly fence. If you install steel hex fencing properly, it should easily last anywhere between 20-30 years.
  4. Fixed Knot Fence: This variety of deer fence is also a wire mesh that is made out of galvanized steel. However, the strength of this variety of net is derived from the knots as suggested in its name itself. In order to prevent the shifting and stretching in the wires, another wire is twisted at the intersections in the mesh which helps to hold each wire it its place. This type of deer fence is corrosion resistant and it is absolutely chew proof. Thus it is considered to be an ideal type of fence for farms and livestock. A fixed knot fence usually lasts easily between 20-40 years. The only flipside despite being the one of the strongest fencing options available in the market, is that it is more expensive compared to the non-metal varieties of deer fence. Another issue with this fence is that it is relatively difficult to install on your own if you do not have the experience. So, you may need to get professional help to get it installed properly.

deers attacking fence
The different types of the anti deer fence provide a good protection to your gardens, or cropsfields.

So, if you are someone who has previously tried sound, taste, sight, and various touch repellents to ward off deer to no effect and you still have the spotted visitors feeding on your lovely garden plants, perhaps it is about time that you consider deer fence and choose any of the above varieties described in this article.