•  

  Diving into the Options for Deer Fencing

  May 3, 2022

  If you have tended a garden in the Victoria area, chances are that you have dealt with the problem of black tail deer chewing up all the delicious things your garden has to offer. While deer have plenty of things to eat, nothing seems to stop them from indulging in your prized shrubbery or perennials. Even worse, against our best efforts to keep them out, the crafty buggers still find a way to sneak under fence, jump it, or exploit gaps or damages.

   

  If you're not interested in making the switch to plants not palatable to deer, like allium or lavender, then chances are you know a thing or two about deer defense tactics and fences. A good fence not only keeps your garden in-tact, but also stops deer from shedding lyme disease bearing ticks in your yard while also safely containing your pet.  

   

  With a long list of home gardeners and various DIY fence tactics, our purpose here is to dive into some of the challenges of keeping deer out, some of the dos and don’ts of deer fencing, and what products work best. 

   

  There are a number of considerations for a deer fence, such as the post material to use, which fencing material to use, and the manner of installation. Furthermore, there are considerations of how your fencing may affect other wildlife, or your local bylaws. The city of Kelowna recently passed a by law prohibiting the use of fences with pickets or finials extending beyond the top horizontal rail. While jumping, deer tend to tuck their hind legs into their body pointed forward, which can get caught or hung up in gaps like the large squares in some livestock fence. There has been ongoing concern for a number of deer in the capital region district believed to be injured by fence pickets or large gaps. With these considerations in mind, it is best to stick to fence products and methods that are designed specifically for deer. 

   

  Posts

  When it comes to posts, the standard arsenal involves galvanized steel posts, steel u-channel or angle steel posts, pressure treated pencil posts driven into the ground, or pressure treated dimensional lumber secured in concrete.

   

  Steel U-channel or angled steel posts 

   

  A fairly common practice that involves hand driving steel u-channel or angled steel into the ground. The benefits of this method is ease of install for most homeowners, and the material can be relatively cheap. Angled u-channel doesn’t have the best look, will most often not form a straight fence, and depending on the quality may be prone to rust. This method would be ideal for DIY homeowners on a budget that want a fast and easy fence install that doesn’t need to be permanent. 

   

  Galvanized steel posts

  A really great looking and long lasting quality fence that finds itself on the steeper end of budgets. These fences are straight and plum. The galvanized steel is naturally armored against rust and corrosion, and posts with a powder coated paint layer have an additional defense against corrosion with a great look. The common method of installation involves augering a post hole and securing the posts in concrete so they are braced level and plum. Other products involve auger-like anchors that are driven into the ground that the post sleeves over. This is Tidy Line’s go to material for securing posts over exposed bedrock - the process involves drilling holes into the bedrock and epoxying in rebar to anchor a concrete cylinder that holds the post.

   

  Pressure Treated pencil posts

  A cost effective method for large fenced areas that involve long fence runs. Seven, eight, or ten foot long pressure treated posts are hammered into the ground using a giant hammer mounted off the back of a tractor. This one is a Tidy Line favourite. The posts don’t have the same life span as powder coated galvanized steel posts, but this method proves it’s worth in affordability, speed of install, and a classic ranch like look. Fences installed with this method are not perfectly straight, and posts are usually not perfectly plum, but if your putting a level to the posts you would usually never know.

   

  Pressure treated dimensional lumber

  This method involves securing square or rectangular posts in augered holes with concrete. A variety of contractors offer this service and it is doable for DIY homeowners. It isn’t a fast process relative to post pounding or jamming steel u-channel into the ground, and the material is quite expensive, but it has a particular look and aesthetic that is appealing to a lot of people.

   

  Fence Material

  When it comes to choosing the right material for fencing, considerations of height, durability, cost, aesthetics, and the fence’s purpose all come into play. Speaking strictly about fences for purposes of wildlife, livestock, or pets, a consideration of the fence’s purpose involves what animals we plan to keep in or out. A fence installed with deer fencing material would do well to keep deer out, but wouldn’t do much to contain cattle leaning on the fence. Alternatively, barbed wire  would keep cattle off the fence and in, but would not keep deer out, and would pose a risk to other wildlife. Speaking strictly about fences for the purpose of keeping deer out, to alleviate risks posed to deer and other wildlife, we highly recommend going with fence products designed specifically for deer. With this in mind we basically have two options, metal mesh and plastic mesh, and a whole range of products within each category.

  Steel metal mesh type fencing

  If you're seeing coyotes, wolves, foxes, rabbits, or gophers around your property, steel fencing is likely the way to go. Because these animals like to chew, plastic fencing is not recommended as they can chew their way through. A metal fence will better deter chewing and digging under the fence. High end metal fences will be coated in a black PVC coating that makes it blend in better with its environment. Some options include smaller holes at the bottom of the fence to keep out smaller critters. These fences are generally more expensive, and require a certain know-how to tension them proper and tight. Tightly tensioned metal fences do well to keep critters from forcing their way under the fence. This material wouldn’t work well with the steel u-channel posts or any post that isn’t strongly anchored into the ground - as the tension of the wire would pull the post over when pulling tight. This material is ideal for a long lasting and permanent fence.

   

  Plastic Fencing

  Plastic can get a bad rap, but homeowners working with higher end UV resistant plastic mesh fencing will find it lightweight and easy to handle. Furthermore, poly mesh fencing is surprisingly tough, with products certified to breaking strengths that range from 500 to 1400 pounds and a 20 year life expectancy. Coming at a lower price point than steel fencing, poly mesh fences are ideal for DIY homeowners looking for a respectable product that is easily handled and installed. That said, plastic fencing should be avoided if there is concern for other animals like rabbits or foxes chewing through it.

Comments

• (no comments)