Seasonal Acres Good“ De-Fence”, Best Offense
Building a Predator-Resistant Garden Fence
Keep Common Culprits Like Deer Out for Good
By Christy Caplan
You’ ve poured hours into nurturing your garden. From sowing seeds to daily watering, you ' ve watched your plants( dahlias!) grow with pride. Then, one morning, you discover your hard work has been undone overnight. Flattened lettuce, half-eaten tomatoes and uprooted seedlings are the tell-tale signs of a nighttime visitor. Keeping wildlife from feasting on your veggies and flowers is a common challenge for gardeners, but a well-designed fence can be your best line of defense. You can get creative, but most experts agree on the basics!
Before you begin building your fence, it ' s essential to do some research and planning.
David Joles, COO of PURCOR Pest Solutions, told AcreageLife Magazine, the first thing you want to do is figure out what specific pests are the main concerns for you.“ Research which pests are most common in your area, as well as the main pests that the plants you’ re growing are specifically known to attract. This can help you determine which type of fencing might be most effective. For example, if deer are the primary concern, you might want to install a tall wire-mesh fence that keeps them from accessing the plants. But, if groundhogs are a primary concern, you may want to really focus on burying the fence deep so that they can’ t get to your plants through underground tunnels.” This step makes sure you’ re not only addressing current issues but also proactively preventing new intruders as your garden evolves.
Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love, emphasizes practicality and agrees with other experts,“ Two tips I have are to install the fence deep and build it high. Certain animals can burrow underground and reach your plants, so if you only have above-ground fencing, you may not be fully protecting them. Also, building it high helps make sure that your plants have plenty of room to grow and that you don’ t have to build a brand new fence eventually as they get to be too big.”
For larger animals, strong materials and construction are crucial. Chris Solita from Baker Tubulars tells AcreageLife that when it comes to protecting gardens and small farms from deer, the key is to build a fence that serves as a true physical barrier, not just a visual deterrent.“ Deer can easily clear low or lightweight fencing, so height and post strength matter. We often see the best results with fencing systems seven to eight feet tall, supported by properly set steel pipe posts. Used structural pipe is especially cost-effective because it offers the same strength and durability as new pipe at a lower price point. When installed correctly, it creates a
32 AcreageLife April 2026 AcreageLife. com