This is the main entrance to the garden. It was the toughest area to get fenced, but I knew the deer wouldn’t necessarily follow the ‘honor system.’ With the 4×4 wooden posts and pretty gate, I’m happy with it.
“I HATE FENCES”…that said, I have to say that, so far, I love this deer fence we recently put up. It didn’t start out too well though. The conversation between my wife and I, that is. She says, “Pat, I’m tired of the deer eating everything that isn’t netted. And I’m tired of having to lift up the netting just to get a few leaves of kale or pick salad greens. And last year the deer even ate the leaves off the potato vines. They even ate some tomato stems.” That was true. We can’t net everything. We use the ‘honor system’ for the tomatoes and potatoes, deer are not supposed to eat them. They trimmed the new corn plants too. Yes, I was tired of all the deer damage too, but our efforts to find an acceptable fence line always ended in a huge disagreement. I says, “All right…if you can find a fence line…one that doesn’t go through the middle of the bamboo, doesn’t cut off the bee hives, and doesn’t slice through the main entrance to the garden, you can have it, but it’s going to take me a good month to set it up and I’m going to be upset the whole time because it won’t be straight. (I’m a printer, I like everything straight) Ten minutes later she marches in triumphantly, “I’ve got it,” she says, with a big smile. We walk it out, and yes, it’s there. I have to insist on my gates, though. I get seven of ’em. Gotta have my gates. 🙂 We decide in an effort to keep peace in the family and to get the job done in time for spring planting, it’ll be hired out. “Whew!!!”
The main entrance. The fruit trees are on the inside of the fence. That means all the wire cages can be removed.
The ‘small’ west gate.
The bigger west gate. I’ve got to grind down the stump on the inside of this gate. I’ll rent a stump grinder…that ought to be fun.
A closer look at the stump…two stumps. Piece of cake…
…NOT!!! I spent a long part of the day, grinding the double stump down with this big stump grinder. I think I got through most of it, but had to hurry to get it back within the time limit so I wouldn’t be charged extra.
This is one of my home-made gates. It opens up to the Cody garden. Cody was a special dog to us for 15+ years. He is buried there.
My daughter drew this colored pencil sketch of Cody with his favorite cat, Chuck, in 2001.
We piled up these ‘tomato’ tires in front of the south gate to try to divert the deer around the fence. They are accustomed to walking through here from the side woods. We’re hoping they develop the habit of walking AROUND the fence. Then we can remove the tires.
Another perk to having a deer fence is being able to grow peas outside the greenhouse. This gate leads to the compost area.
So, there are my seven gates. The following video shows how to build a deer fence. You know I have to shoot video of everything that moves in the garden. When the fence boys came, I couldn’t help myself…out came the cameras. I just had to find out how the pros build a tight wire fence without bending the fence posts crooked. I’m proud to say I found out and documented it for others to possibly use.
I had never seen a stump grinder or the post hole diggers before, the former I do with an axe and a spade, the latter I leave a very big hole and a big pile of earth 🙂 I could also do with one of them tension brace, bracket type things for my next fence. Looking good Pat, I hope it keeps them out!
The stump grinder was an experiment. We had mapped out several stumps we wanted to remove. With all the trouble it took to get the thing, walk it out to the stump, and proceed to grind it down, I think I’ll just ‘put up and shut up’ next time. (Not to mention all the carbon emissions that it blows into the air.) The other stumps will have to wait for time to rot them out. 🙂
I was curious about how the pros would dig the post holes. I figured they would use some kind of powered auger. No, they just used the basic post hole diggers and lots of muscle. 🙂
That was one slick job! The way that fence has been put in I think you will be O.K. for the odd elephant on the loose too. I am sure you are going to feel much freer in the garden this year without the intrusions from the deer. Amelia
Every morning we check the garden. We walk around noticing the plants that are coming back ‘after the deer,’ like the Autumn Joy sedum. The deer would let it grow a little, then nibble it down, or the Summer Sweet. The Summer Sweet was given to us by a fellow gardener who also has bees (in a tree). It’s supposed to be ‘deer resistant.’ It’s not, as we have discovered. Now it can grow. I’m salivating over the many more video possibilities that will present themselves. 😀
It will be a big change for you this year.
Now you can relax more, and grow stuff without worry of it being eaten by the deer, great job 🙂
Yes, it’s a huge relief to know they won’t come browsing through, nibbling this, chewing that. Last year I had a great stand of phacelia that we had grown from seed. Little by little it was pulled apart until it was gone. That was the result of the deer walking from the garden down to the bird feeding ‘tree.’ The phacelia was just another bite on the way. 😦
Snacking eh, just like us humans!
What a great video! I laughed (the gate negotiations between you and the Mrs.), I cried (to see the drawing of Cody and Chuck), I drooled (over the beautiful Oregon garden, greenery and sky) and I learned (about how to build a fence!) Loved it!
In the spring the greenery is almost overwhelming. It’s almost like a tsunami rolling in. When the sun decides to shine, Oregon’s blue skies dazzle. The fence is successful…so far. We saw the deer walk through our back yard and approach the fence, nosing around one of the gates, then head down to the bird feeder. Right now, as I type, I can watch the yearling (last year’s baby) grazing in the field. The doe is close by. The Oregon Coast, what a great place to live!!!