Fencing off the Pests

Email Page

Print Page

Robert Dolezal

Extras

Add Photo to Journal

Protect your vegetable plants – above and below the ground – with mesh-wire barriers.

When it comes to vegetable gardens, inground plantings are among the most common. Unfortunately, burrowing animals and other four-legged (and sometimes feathered) pests tend to enjoy your veggies as much as you do. One way to help stop your produce from being harvested by unwanted critters is to use galvanized wire mesh barriers buried beneath the soil, as well as above it.

You can help stop gophers, moles and other burrowing animals from barging under – and into – your garden by burying galvanized wire mesh fabric along each edge of your vegetable plot, at least 18 inches down into the soil.

To prevent birds, rabbits and other browsers from feeding on your tender seedlings aboveground, cover your plantings with a V-shaped arch of wire fabric. The plants will grow right through the holes, or you can remove the entire arch once your plants have become more established.

Large mammals like deer can empty a garden of its plants in an evening. Block their access into your vegetable plot by erecting a tall fence at least 10 feet high around the garden’s edge, or by building paired parallel, shorter fences, each 6 feet tall and 4-6 feet apart. These fences may be built from many materials, including wire mesh, vinyl or wooden pickets, woven willow or bamboo canes.

Facts

Rodents – from mice to rabbits – are serious garden pests due to the damage they cause and the diseases and parasites they carry.

Tips

Remember, gophers and moles can get into raised beds, too. Before filling your planter boxes with soil, place barrier mesh along the bottom of your raised beds to keep these hungry pests out!

Page 1 of 1

Next Steps

Articles

Moles, Voles and Odd-Looking Holes
Got moles? Got voles? What do you do to control these common landscape pests? You need a different strategy to manage them, so the first step is figuring out exactly which critter has invaded your garden.
Animal Pests That Like to Veg...in Your Garden
For most vegetable gardeners, feasting pests is a major concern. Animals of all sizes – from deer to mice – are attracted to tender veggies and capable of inflicting serious damage. Here are a few ideas to help put an end to the feast.
Critter Control
What do the slimiest of slugs and the craftiest of deer have in common? They both want to feast in your garden. But before you reach for the chemicals, consider trying some innovative, environmentally safe, chemical-free products that may help keep these space invaders out of your yard!

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 4 out of 5.