QuestionI have a garden in my backyard that backs up to a pond so we have tons of wildlife. Planting flowers specifically to attract butterflies and hummingbirds is a great idea too. The only problem I have is the deer eating all my lilies and phlox down to the ground before they even bloom. How do I stop them?
Answer
Low Visibility Deer Fe
Hello,
The most effective deer deterent is a fence. A vertical deer fence needs to be at least 8 feet high. These fences can be purchased in kit form and consist of coated metal or aluminum fence posts,tension wire,a gate,braces and landscape staples. It is important that the fencing has a gate so that in case any deer happen to get inside the fencing they can easily be allowed to escape. The bottom of the fence must be secured to the ground with landscape staples so deer cannot crawl under the fence. The length of the staples depends on the soil type;a loam and thus softer soil,would require a longer staple for instance. Rebar staples are recommended for clay or rocky soil.
The fencing is constructed of plastic or metal wide mesh and is available in low visibility form so that the fencing is not overly apparent in the landscape and blends in with the surroundings. Colored streamers or some other kind of marker should be tied to the fencing to warn deer of its presence as deer have poor eyesight.
A slanted deer fence is angled away 30 to 45 degrees from the protected area and can be of only a 5 feet length. Since deer have poor depth perception they will not attempt to cross such a fence even though in many cases they could. These fences can also be electrified. Existing wooden fences can also be retrofitted with this type of fencing.
Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further help.
Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email:
[email protected]
http://www.scribd.com/markscrib47
