It should come as no surprise that you will not be the only one enjoying your fresh harvest if you do not have a vegetable Garden fence protecting your hard work. Deer, rabbits, raccoons, opossum and many other wild creatures are grazers by nature, and will not distinguish your garden as anything other than a wonderful buffet set before them. Unless it is your intent to feed the natural neighborhood, building an appropriate and effective barrier will put more food on your table at harvest time.

Planning a vegetable garden is an activity that many gardeners look forward to in the cold, dreary days of winter. Choosing which vegetables to plant, how much of each variety to plant and how much area the garden will need to cover are some of the considerations that will need to be addressed. It can be an exciting time and an event in which the entire family can participate. When spring arrives, the time for planning is over and the time for putting plans into action begins. Preparing the soil and planting the seeds followed by careful maintenance of weeding and watering as the plants emerge from seedlings and into fruitful plants will bring visions of bountiful harvests at the end of the growing season.

The first signs that these concepts may be going awry will be telltale footprints in the well-tilled garden soil and slender plants stem stripped of their green leaves. Some of the plants may disappear completely overnight; only a small nub peeking out from the ground as a reminder. Because of the lack of a vegetable garden fence, various creatures have assumed that the garden you so lovingly planted was done in their honor, and helped themselves to the delicate, young plants. It is not too late; the remaining plants can be saved from the ravenous feeders by erecting a barrier to keep the animals out.

You will need to become familiar with the animals that are invading the garden to know how to keep them out.  Deer are inquisitive grazers and will sample any and all plants growing in the garden.  They are also exquisite jumpers; capable of clearing obstacles reaching over 8 feet in height.  Fencing to prohibit deer from accessing your garden will require tall, tightly meshed fencing material that is approximately 8 feet tall. Deer are also able to crawl under fencing, so it is important to stake or secure the fence to or below ground level.

Small animals such as rabbits, gophers, skunks, raccoons, and opossum can be equally as destructive in your vegetable garden. A shorter fence can be erected for these critters if there is no deep threat in the area.  Two or three feet tall is generally sufficient for size, with the construction of fine wire mesh recommended. For a more natural appearance, bamboo or wood fencing can be a consideration; other options include aluminum, wrought iron, and chain link fencing materials. Many gardeners opt for green tinted wire mesh, which tends to blend in with the surrounding green landscape and not provide an eyesore in the backyard.

Electric fencing is also an option for a vegetable garden fence; however, if small children are part of the household this can pose a danger. A more expensive yet highly effective choice is that of a sonic fence.  Using sound instead of the shocks that electric fencing produces, sonic fencing can detect creatures 50 feet away and act as a barrier for deterring unwanted grazers in the garden.

Keeping your vegetable garden protected from nature’s creatures will put more of its harvest on your dinner table at the end of the season. Using a fence that effectively keeps critters out and your hard work safe is the answer to a gardener’s prayers.

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