Farm & Ranch Fence
Garden Fence Installation
Fences that keep deer, rabbits, dogs and chickens out of the beds and the orchard: wire on wood or T-posts, sized for the animal that is actually eating your garden.
A garden fence has one job: keep a specific animal away from specific plants. The right fence depends entirely on which animal. Deer go over, rabbits go under, dogs push through, chickens fly a little and dig a lot, and feral hogs root up everything. Around Lake Livingston most garden fence calls are about deer and rabbits, with dogs and hogs close behind. We build garden and orchard fences in wire on cedar or treated posts, in welded or woven wire on T-posts, and as frames for the finer mesh that keeps the small pests out.
Fence by animal
| Problem | What works |
|---|---|
| Deer | Seven- to eight-foot woven wire or mesh on tall posts, or a double row of shorter fence. See deer fence. |
| Rabbits | One-inch or smaller mesh along the bottom two feet, buried or bent out at the ground. |
| Dogs | Four- to five-foot welded or no-climb wire, bottom edge tight to grade. |
| Chickens | Four- to six-foot wire with small mesh low, and a buried or aproned bottom to stop digging predators. |
| Feral hogs | Hog panel set at or below grade on close posts. |
How we build it
Garden fence is small-scale ranch fence, and it gets the same bones. Corner, end and gate posts are set in concrete and braced where the wire is stretched. Line posts are cedar or treated wood for a fence near the house, T-posts for a working garden or an orchard. Wire is stretched tight and stapled to the inside of the posts, with finer mesh added low for rabbits where needed and the bottom edge buried or aproned outward so nothing digs under. Gates are built wide enough for a wheelbarrow or a garden cart and latched so a dog cannot nose them open. For a deer fence we go tall and keep the top wire visible so deer see it.
Making it look like part of the yard
The fences people are happiest with are the ones where the wood shows and the wire disappears: cedar posts with a top rail and welded wire stapled inside, a picket fence with mesh behind it, or a low split rail backed with wire. A cedar arbor over the gate is a common touch. We will build the fence to match the house and the beds rather than putting a pasture fence around a vegetable garden.
Orchards and larger plots
An orchard or a big garden on acreage is usually fenced like a small pasture: T-posts, woven or welded wire, braced corners and a drive gate for the tractor or the mower. Deer height is the usual requirement. See field fence and rolled wire fencing for the wire options.
What affects the price of a garden fence
Height for deer is the biggest factor, then whether the posts are cedar for looks or T-posts for work, then the finer mesh along the bottom and the buried edge. A gate wide enough for a cart is a small add; an arbor over it is a larger one. A garden fence is a small job, and we are glad to combine it with a fence or deck project so the trip is shared.
Where to put the gate, and the beds
Put the gate on the side nearest the house and the hose, wide enough for the wheelbarrow, and latched above a dog's reach. Leave a mowing strip or a path along the inside of the fence so you can keep the bottom edge clear; a garden fence with weeds grown into it is a rabbit ladder. If the beds are raised, keep them a foot off the fence so you can work both sides. Small things, but they are the difference between a garden fence you like and one you fight.
Frequently asked questions
How tall does a garden fence need to be for deer?
Deer clear a five-foot fence easily. Around here, seven to eight feet is what keeps them out of a garden they want. A shorter fence works only if it is wide-topped or double-rowed so a deer cannot judge the jump. See our deer fence page.
What keeps rabbits out?
Small mesh, one inch or less, along the bottom two feet, with the bottom edge buried a few inches or bent outward on the ground. Rabbits go under, not over.
Can a garden fence look nice and still work?
Yes. Cedar posts and rails with wire mesh stapled inside is the common answer: the wood is what you see, the wire is what works. We build a lot of them that way.
Ready to fence the garden?
Tell us about the project and we will set up a free on-site estimate. Or just call: we answer the phone.