DIY Deer Fence For Year-Round Deer Management

The fall season is upon us. I thought it would be a great time to start thinking about our fall gardens. However, if you are living in a climate with a lot of deer, gardening can be a huge challenge. My friend at Deerbusters has the solution for your deer problems by offering some great deer fence options. I hope you enjoy the following post from Jennifer Smith of Deerbusters! And who knows, maybe you may even find a solution for those deer! Make sure you check out the video from HomesteadHow below the post. You will see the results of installing one of the fences from Deerbusters! Enjoy…

DIY Deer Fence For Year-Round Deer Management

Written by Jennifer Smith, Deerbusters

Gardening is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. 

In 2018, Americans spent slightly more than $47 billion on lawn care. This is equal to approximately $503 per person – $100 more than the previous year. These numbers mean two things: Not only do Americans care about the appearance of their landscapes; but they will do whatever it takes to maintain an attractive home garden.

They will go beyond planting by implementing deer management strategies to rid deer and other wild animals from lawns and gardens to keep an untouched image. After all, deer are the number one complaint among growers. They cause over 94 percent of damage to agricultural sites each year including farms, homesteads, orchards, and vineyards. 

So, what is the best tactic to keep deer off growing sites? There are deer repellents and predator urine on the market to sprinkle on the grass, but they fade away within a month due to extreme heat, rain, and snow, leaving growers wondering if the repellent is effective. You can even visit feedthatgame.com and purchase salt licks to be placed away from your home to attract them elsewhere.

There are deer-resistant flowers that can be planted near homes, but this approach still invites deer to indulge on lawns. The best way to reduce the number of wildlife on landscapes is to install deer fencing around fruit and vegetable gardens and small farms. 

Why Deer Fencing?

Deer fencing is a broad term because it helps control deer browsing while also preventing garden damage from other wild animals. The use of a deer fence is recommended for gardens experiencing damage caused by deer, coyotes, groundhogs, and rabbits – just to name a few garden nuisances. 

There are two main types of fence materials used for deer fencing: polypropylene (plastic) and steel. While there are other fence materials on the market for landscapes, not all are appropriate for wildlife exclusion. When looking at costs, homeowners will find that plastic and metal deer fencing costs $1-3 per foot rather than $5-8 per foot using wooden, vinyl or chain-link fencing.

Plastic Deer Fence

Growers that see occasional deer herds in their home garden may consider installing a plastic deer fence. This type of fence can be used for a variety of applications in addition to wildlife deterrence. For one, this fence material can be used for temporary or permanent use by novice and veteran growers or seasonally.

The material is lightweight and easy to manage for growers that may wish to uninstall and store the fence rolls in sheds during the winter months. A plastic fence can also be used by homeowners with small dog breeds. This material makes a great alternative to chain-link fences (more suitable for larger dogs) and electric fencing (deemed inhumane by some animal rights organizations.

Plastic deer fencing contains a certified breaking strength of 650-1400 pounds and a lifespan of up to 20 years outside! The material is not chew-resistant against some deer and wild animals. However, it is highly recommended for homeowners seeing light to moderate deer traffic in gardens.  It comes in different heights and strength grades. 

Metal Deer Fence

Deer are found throughout North America except in Alaska, and parts of Utah, Nevada, and California. Those four states are considered the “lucky ones”.  Others have it bad when it comes to deer and other wild animals making themselves at home on their properties. Therefore, growers turn to metal deer fencing for a stronger, longer-lasting solution to their wildlife woes.  

Chain-link fence is a popular choice for homeowners and those with domestic dogs. However, it is not a top choice for deer exclusion on landscapes. For one, a chain-link fence is expensive to install. Homeowners will need to buy fencing. Then they must seek a professional fence installer to finish the job. This adds to the cost of the fence project. The material is less attractive than most types of traditional deer fences and is an eyesore on properties.

For deer exclusion, including rabbits, groundhogs, and other chewing animals, deer fencing comes in two types of metal construction. The first is a hexagonal-shaped material. The second is a welded wire. These materials last 10-20 years longer than plastic deer fencing on lawns and gardens and can also be used for pet owners with medium-sized dog breeds with high energy that may chew and dig.

Hexagonal Fence

Hexagonal Fence is most commonly seen on farms and pastures for livestock management of poultry; and serves to secure free-ranging chickens from wandering off or being attacked by coyotes, foxes, and wolves. In addition to poultry, the fence is recommended for use against burrowing animals including rabbits, groundhogs, and woodchucks; and can be a great solution for home growers dealing with heavy amounts of deer pressure on landscapes, too.

Adding PVC-coating to hexagonal shaped fencing adds a secondary layer of protection against environmental damage and chew marks from predatory animals.  Best of all, hexagonal-shaped fences magically trick the eye into believing that the fence is virtually invisible, blending seamlessly into surroundings. 

Welded Wire Fence

Welded Wire Fences are another popular choice for home growers dealing with chewing animals but care more about the aesthetics of the fence on their landscape. Varying mesh dimension sizes to choose from, mixed with a sleek black fence mesh, give this type of metal deer fence the glam that some homeowners wish to have on their properties.

Like hexagonal fencing, welded wire with PVC will better serve home growers in the long run protecting the steel core from chew marks from deer and other wildlife. In addition to garden protection, welded wire fencing is popular around swimming pools as it meets pool code in several U.S. states.