deer fencing?

[bck]

Hi folks!

I'm in Maryland and looking to put up some deer fencing around my garden bed. I know that official recommendations are for 8-10 foot tall fence.

However, I'm wondering if that is necessary for a smaller garden size, like 10'x10' or 16'x16'. I know that deer don't like jumping into small enclosures - has anyone had success with a 4, 5, or 6 foot fence for smaller size gardens?

Thanks!!

 

[Denim Deb]

I have a 4 ft fence around my garden and have never had a deer jump the fence-and I live next to the woods! I have gotten turkeys in there as well as rabbits and a groundhog, but that's it. I've heard of people putting up a single strand of electric fencing, but don't know how far away you need to put it, or how high. If you do that, don't make it real visible to the deer. You don't want them to see it.

ETA: Where in MD are you located? I've been wondering about moving there myself. Even suggested it to hubby today.

 

[Joel_BC]

Hi folks!

I'm in Maryland and looking to put up some deer fencing around my garden bed. I know that official recommendations are for 8-10 foot tall fence.

However, I'm wondering if that is necessary for a smaller garden size, like 10'x10' or 16'x16'. I know that deer don't like jumping into small enclosures - has anyone had success with a 4, 5, or 6 foot fence for smaller size gardens?

I'm in British Columbia (Canada), above the American states of Washington & Idaho, and below Alaska. Here, we have two varieites of deer - White Tail deer and Mule deer. In our valley, the invasions by deer got pretty bad, and by about six or seven years ago, everyone had noticed the problem. We researched the situation (as to what height of fence was working effectively - locally), and people were buying and putting up 6.5-foot fencing.

We have a bit over eight acres, and we've fenced about half of it with fencing of that height. This was about four years ago (maybe nearly five?). It has worked pefectly for us.

We've added an electric strand to keep bears out, but we did that last summer so it's had no bearing on our impression about the deer fence's effectiveness. The reason we fenced only half our property is that buying fencing (and gates) can be a bit expensive, and putting it up involves time and trouble. Plus we have a couple acres of woods, and there's no point in fencing the deer out of there.

I mentioned where we're located because what height fence is required to keep deer out may vary from one deer species to another. But ask a bunch of local friends and neighbors, not just one or two. Use good cautious judgment, but avoid being scared into putting up a really-high fence if it's not warranted.

 

[Daffodils At The Sea]

I have a 7' chicken wire fence with a string at 8' so the bevies of quail can see the fence. You know, the first 10 guys make it over and Number 11 goes "smack" into it. The deer are pretty easy to deter and a fence has worked well for us. The racoons can climb any fence you give them, so you might have to do a few things inside to slow them down. i never really could trust that things would be there the next day until I had a 7-8 foot fence.