Texas is home to millions of deer of various species. White-tailed deer and mule deer are the two native deer species to Texas’s vast and diverse countryside.
Although deer are beautiful animals, they are considered pests because they are notorious for eating plants and wreaking havoc on gardens and backyards. Today, we’ll discuss the different deer fences for gardens.
Since deer are wild animals, no one takes care of them. Thus, they may carry dangerous ticks that can cause Lyme disease.
So, the best way to prevent your yard from being destroyed by deer or exposing your pets to the illnesses they carry is by adding a sturdy barrier.
In addition to this guide, we are confident that you can use any of the 8 ranch style fences to deter deer if you build them around 7.5 to 8 feet high.
Now, we’ll address some points you need to consider when installing a deer fence:
An adult deer can quickly jump 7 ft. or higher and squeeze through small gaps in vertical or horizontal fences.
To be effective, a ” deer-proof” fence must be 8 ft. or taller and constructed of impenetrable solid materials like welded wire or chain link.
The barrier should be 8 feet high if you can see through it and 6 feet high if it is a privacy fence. Deer are less likely to jump a barrier if they can’t see if there is a potential predator on the other side.
But some deer won’t obey their instincts. Look at this homemade video of a deer jumping over 2 wood fences.
Since deer are wild animals, the sturdier the barrier, the better. So, if you want a more effective solution to keep deer out, you can opt for metal mesh fences.
For instance, you can buy the Deer, Orchard & Wildlife Fencing of Red Brand. Then, you can hire AMG Fence & Builders to install your deer-proof barrier.
Plastic mesh is practical because it’s easier to install and affordable.
One of the best plastic deer fences is Tenax deer fence.
Tenax deer fence is a barrier that can be used to control deer around yards or gardens. It is virtually invisible and blends into the natural landscape.
Tenax deer fence is made in the USA and is designed to last over 10 years. It provides added tensile reinforcement for bottom and top attachment and security.
But deer are smart.
They will try to crawl and push underneath your plastic mesh fence and focus on a barrier’s weak spots.
So, installing a wire mesh enclosure will leave no gaps between the fence and the ground, becoming the most effective deer fencing for gardens.
Since we are talking about deer fencing for gardens, you need to consider the appearance of the deer barrier you’ll install.
The best-looking deer barriers are wood and metal fences. When well-designed and properly installed, a wood and metal fence is an appealing landscape feature.
The poly mesh fence is a solid plastic polymer resistant to harsh weather and physical force.
Depending on the strength of the mesh, poly deer fencing has a life expectancy of about 10 to 20 years.
This mesh is attached to vertical posts to form a barrier against deer. You must stake the mesh into the ground to deter deer from digging or crawling.
We recommend installing a poly mesh deer fence at least 7.5 ft. high for effectiveness.
Another advantage is that poly mesh is see-through. So, installing this plastic mesh will help keep deer out while not obstructing your view of the green lands on the horizon.
The most significant disadvantage of this type of deer fence is that it is not 100% chew-proof. With enough deer pressure and consistent chewing, holes or tearing may occur over time.
The next step up in strength is steel hex fencing, composed of galvanized steel wire mesh. The hexagonal design of the wire mesh is much stronger than a square design, which is why it’s so common in nature, like a beehive.
One of the benefits of installing a steel hex web fence is its toughness. The galvanized steel mesh makes it chew-proof.
Remember that you want to keep wild animals out of your garden. So, you should first think of the sturdiness of an enclosure over its appearance.
Steel hex web fence is see-through and has a sleek mesh design. It looks like a beehive.
But sincerely, metal mesh fences are helpful. They don’t look awesome, but they do a fantastic job keeping deer out. Thus, you can add this as a backyard fence option.
This type of garden deer fence is made of heavy-gauge metal attached to metal posts.
Welded wire deer fence is not cheap, but it’s one of the most durable and sturdy barriers.
Nowadays, one of the trendiest options is hog wire panels framed with wood to maintain rigidity from top to bottom. The welded wire and wood frame perfectly combine, increasing your yard’s curb appeal.
Another sleek option is a metal deer fence, where the wire panels are welded to the fence posts.
But the only thing is that this fence has to be at least 7.5 feet high. If you can build it as high as 8 feet, it will be better for keeping deer out.
This high-tensile woven wire mesh works perfectly to keep deer out if you ask your fence contractor to build it around 7.5 to 8 ft. tall.
No climb horse fence is one of the most popular ranch style fences.
A machine bends woven wire into “V” patterns closely to prevent animals’ heads and hooves from getting stuck and hurting themselves. This type of enclosure works perfectly for keeping wild animals out.
The other woven wire pattern is square mesh, closely spaced with a 2″ x 2″ opening. This small opening mesh effectively keeps deer out and is less likely to harm them.
Chain-link fence, also known by some as hurricane fence, is another type of garden deer fencing. This metal mesh enclosure is the most effective in keeping deer out.
What’s best about chain-link fences is that they can be customized to almost any height. You can install a 7 ft., 8 ft., 10 ft., or 12 ft. deer fence, but the 8 ft. deer fence will do the job just fine.
Chain-link fences are helpful, relatively easy to install, and cost-effective.
So, in our humble opinion, they don’t look fabulous in the front yard. Instead, you can use them in your backyard since it will be hard for deer to jump over them.
Lastly, you should consider installing a privacy wood fence.
Wood is beautiful. It took years and a divine touch to design wood grains and patterns.
Wood fences look lovely, charming, and classic. So, installing one will enhance the curb appeal of your property.
But since you want an effective deer barrier for your garden, wood can be a good choice. Yet, it’s not 100% deer-proof.
Since deer are wild animals, they live in the constant run or get killed routine.
So, when you install a wood privacy fence, deer can’t see if a potential predator is on the other side. Thus, some deer will not jump over your wood fence and will move on.
But as you saw in the video we shared at the beginning of this article, there is no guarantee that wood fences will always stop deer. Some deer will jump anyway, forgetting their instincts.
Wood and metal fences are more robust than wooden barriers.
The metal (iron or aluminum) makes the fences more resistant to weather conditions and stable, ensuring a durable and cost-effective option.
At the same time, the wood adds an organic and unrepeatable design.
So, if deer is a constant nuisance in your garden, you must invest in a more durable enclosure.
Deer are wonderful, majestic animals. I love to see them. But I don’t love to see them eating my grass, crops, plants, and the leaves & shoots of my trees. So, as a residential fence contractor near San Marcos, TX, and Kyle, TX, we can help you.
Basically, the best barriers to keep deer out are steel hex web fences, galvanized welded wire fences, woven wire fences, and chain-link fences.
Hire AMG Fence & Builders to install a ranch style fence that will stop deer from jumping into your garden or farmland.
Remember as well that male deer are dangerous. So, by keeping them out, you’ll avoid any risk that a deer hurts your pets or kids!
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