How To Build A Garden Fence To Keep Animals Out
The best fence to build around your garden depends upon which animal you want to keep out. The height of the fence, mesh size, and depth all depend upon the animal you're dealing with. To keep your garden safe, learning how to build a garden fence to keep animals out is a must. Creating a visible, as well as a physical barrier, may increase your chances of keeping stubborn marauders out.
Tips for Installing Garden Fence Posts Properly
Regardless of what kind of fence you're installing, the most crucial step is appropriately positioning your fence posts. Fence posts provide stability and endurance to your fence. Here are four tips to help you stand your fence posts.
- Garden fence posts should be positioned for a maximum of 6 feet apart. This distance secures the precise holding power of your fence fabric. If you choose to place the posts closer together, consider your fence fabric and the durability of the materials.
- Light-duty and heavy-duty posts include tabs along the above-ground section. It allows you to anchor or attach the fence to several places on the post. If you wish to adjust these tabs, use a screwdriver or hammer to open or close the tabs.
- Light-duty posts can be utilized on the vertical sections of the fence. Light-duty fence posts have their spade located 12 inches above the bottom of the post, leaving 1 foot less than the total length available above-ground for attachment.
- Heavy-duty posts should be placed at the edges of your fence. They provide added support to anchor points. These posts have their spade placed 18 inches above the bottom of the post, leaving 1½ feet less than the total length available above-ground. This positioning of the spade increases the stability of your fence.
Tools and Supplies Needed to Build a Garden Fence
- Hammer
- Shovel or Hole Digger
- Wood Saw
- Wire Cutter
- 4 boxes of nails
- 39 1" x 4" x 16' boards
- 9 4" x 4" x 6' boards
- Field fence
- Gate latch & handle
Step-by-step Process
Plotting the Hole & Digging
Begin by identifying a 30' x 30' piece of land to place your garden. Dig nine holes for the fence posts, forming a square. The measurement of the holes should be 12 inches wide and two feet deep. Separate each hole by 14.5 feet on each side. On the entrance to the garden, dig one extra hole halfway between one of the holes. Place one 4" x 4" x 6' boards in each gap and pack dirt to fill them.
Cutting the Wood & Fence
Next, cut 32 pieces of 1" x 4" x 16' boards to measure 14.5 feet in length. Cut the remaining seven boards to about eight inches each. Then, cut two of the sixteen, 14.5-foot boards in half and cut an additional two inches off of each piece. To finish, cut the field fence with a wire cutter. Make eight 14.5-foot divisions, and then cut one of those eight sections in half.
Creating the Fence
Build the side of your fence by nailing two, 14.5-foot 1x4s to two of the smaller-cut 1x4s creating a rectangle. Do this process until you have seven sides in total. The long sides will overlap the two smaller sides. Next, nail a 14.5-foot part of the field fence to one side of each rectangle. Place a 1x4 board over each side, covering the edge, then nail it in. Repeat this process with the two remaining smaller sections for the garden entrance. Now put everything together.
Constructing the Fence
Attach each fence side into a fence post (4x4) and nail it into the top and bottom of each side. Use a level and score each post to ensure precision before nailing it in. If possible, get some help since the entire process may be too tiring for a single individual.
Finishing Touches
For your entrance, leave one side of the fence unattached to the post. Choose an attractive, partial overlay hinge to complement the aesthetics of your garden. Install the hinge and latch where the handle is most convenient to access. You can add additional touches like paint to make your garden fence more pleasing to the eyes.
Wrap Up
You're finally done! This garden fence will help keep your garden safe from animals trying to trespass your space and sabotage your crops. Best of all, you built it yourself! So you do deserve a pat in the back!
Knowing how to build a garden fence to keep animals out ensures that your crops grow healthy without some unwanted pests trying to feed on them. Make sure that your fence is strong enough, especially when trying to keep large animals out. With some help, making a DIY fence is no trouble. It’s a useful tool for a thriving garden. Find out more about garden care.