Deer Deterrent: How High to Build a Fence
Q: For a small home garden, how high do you think a fence should be to prevent deer from jumping into the garden to devour young tomatoes, emerging okra and other plants?
A: My brother has had success deterring deer, starting with an inherited four 4-foot high chain link chain-link fence for his garden area. He extended all the fence posts up four 4 feet using black plastic pipe, making each post eight 8 feet high. Between the pipe extensions he attached four 4-foot heavy duty plastic mesh to which he hung reflective ribbon. He said that deer, seeing what they perceive as an eight 8-foot-high fence, devoured his hostas and hydrangeas instead. I think this scheme could be enhanced by a second short fence, perhaps four 4 feet high, outside the big fence. Now a deer has to contemplate jumping the little fence and then having enough room to jump the taller fence. Somehow, I think unfenced ornamentals would be more appealing.
-
-
-
1
Importance of Soil Temps
-
2
Bumblebee – Nest
-
3
Plant Hoppers (Planthoppers) – Roosting on Stems
-
4
Ants – Baiting and Removal
-
5
Fungus – Growing in Treated Wood
-
1
Scale insect control on Meyer lemon
-
2
Cat’s Claw Vine – Identification
-
3
Zoysia – Greenup Problems
-
4
Fire Ant – Control Organically
-
5
Oak – Immature Acorns
-
