6 Ways to Use Deer Fencing to Protect Your Pets and Garden

If you live in an area with lots of green space, your pets and flourishing garden may be at more risk than you know. Whether your garden consists of fruit trees, vegetables or simply ornamental trees and flowers, herbivores will be interested in culling from it what isn’t theirs. Deer, groundhogs, squirrels, or any four-legged wildlife critters will take immediate interest in the beauty you’ve planted and have hope to eventually harvest.

Woodland creatures may have somewhat peaceful intentions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t come with their own set of serious issues that can potentially put domestic animals and humans at grave risk. They may have consumed pesticides while grazing in other areas leaving diseased droppings behind. They may also be infested with fleas and ticks that easily invade your garden or green space during the critter’s visit. Humans, inadvertently stepping in or being exposed to toxic droppings can become violently ill, while fleas and ticks bring their own dangers when they bite humans, such as Lyme disease, Typhus and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Keep Your Dogs Safe

Whether you have one dog or six, installing deer fencing around the perimeter of your backyard will keep your dogs safely inside and deer – and other creatures – safely out. The height of the fence you install will depend on a several factors. First, how athletic is your dog? Are your pets liable to jump a four-foot fence, or do they feel content to keep their feet on the ground? Also, do deer, historically, track through your area? If it’s only the smaller creatures you’re worried about, and Spot is happier sniffing around rather than scaling the fence in search of other scents, than a shorter deer fence will work just fine.

When You Want that Seamless Look

Your garden and lawn area create a landscape of beauty which you’ve spent hours planning, plotting, and preening. Still, furry creatures and deer are risking your hard-earned bounty by consuming your vegetables and fruits, leaving their droppings, and trampling over your delicate plants. When you’re tired of the “help” that the local wildlife is offering, consider installing an invisible deer fence. This type of fencing is durable and effective, while also creating a harmonious blend of beauty and function within your green space. An invisible deer fence will not only keep deer and other wildlife from your garden, it will also allow you to visually enjoy the beauty of all your plantings, in every stage of growth and maturation.  

Protect those Tree Trunks

Deer love trees for a variety of reasons – the shade they provide, eating the leaves, and for safety. However, during rutting season, deer spray trees to mark their territory and attract a mate. Bucks also rub their antlers on trees to show dominance, intimidate other bucks, and mark their territory. All these activities can cause tremendous damage to the base of your fruit, ornamental or any other types of trees. Wrapping deer fence around the tree trunk will encourage deer to take their activities elsewhere.

Different Fence Heights for Different Purposes

Generally, installing an eight foot or higher deer fence is practical if you have deer roaming in your area or a dog that is bursting with energy and enthusiasm. However, if your garden is only visited by the smaller, shorter variety of woodland creatures, and your pet is somewhat sedate, installing a shorter deer fence is a wise, affordable, and effective solution to maintain the viability of your garden.

Deer Netting for Smaller Jobs

Deer netting is a light, pliable alternative to deer fencing. It is best used for protecting a small garden, single shrubs and plants. This netting is also an excellent addition of layered functionality if you just want to add a bit of protection to existing fencing or natural barriers that are already there, like hedges, thickets, evergreens and large trees with massive trunks.

Traditional Deer Fencing

When you have a larger area to protect such as: a sprawling kitchen garden, numerous raised beds and an expanse of lawn area or a broad green space; traditional deer fencing is the ideal choice. Available in a variety of different materials, it’s meant to work with posts to create a durable, long-lasting barrier between wildlife and you, your pets, and your garden.  It’s available in different heights to best suit your personal needs.  It is kinder and gentler, not to mention more effective, than sprays, repellants, and motion-activated devices. Plus, once installed, deer will naturally veer away from your green space as they’ll become accustomed to the deer fence barrier.

You work hard every day on your lawn and garden. Deer fencing, whether invisible, traditional, short or tall, is the ideal solution to keeping it clear of the danger’s wildlife pose to it.