Benefits of a Garden Fence

There are many reasons to put up a fence around your garden area, whether it's a vegetable or flower garden. It will help accent the beauty of your garden, or protect it from unwanted dinner guests.

Here are some garden fence ideas that will help give you some protection from pests. Avoid using materials that can be chewed threw by animals looking for a snack. Look for fencing materials that do not have large gaps in the material. I was amazed when I saw a rabbit jump through my chain link fence.

The most basic and easiest type of fence is a plastic or wire mesh fencing material. This is usually one to two feet tall and usually is made with small opening so animals cannot get through it. It is also tall enough that animals cannot easily jump it. "Green Garden Fence", "Rabbit Shield Garden Fence", or hex netting (chicken wire) are just some of the fencing product names that can be found at your local garden center or home improvement store. When I first started my home vegetable garden, I didn't fence it off. Within a few days of sprouting up, my broccoli, peas and lettuce were eaten to the ground. Up to that point, I had spent more on the soil, and tending the garden than protecting it. Don't make the same mistake.

If you are looking for a more decorative fencing to accent your garden, a vinyl, PVC or wood fence is nice. There are many different styles you can choose from. Picket, woven, lattes, and other types of fencing that offer some amount protection without being too ugly. With a wood fence, you can paint it to accent the colors in your garden, or just have the traditional white picket fence. If you choose a PVC or vinyl fence it is maintenance free. these do offer some protection from larger animals, but minimal for smaller ones unless you fill in the gaps near the base of the fence. You can do this with any number of materials from the mesh fencing we talked about earlier or additional vinyl or wood pieces. Rabbits generally won't jump over fences they can't see behind.

Putting up a garden fence can be simple to complex depending on what materials you are using and the accessible the area you are trying to install the fence is. A little planning can keep your garden beautiful and free of pests. It can also help you not look like Elmer Fudd chasing the rabbit around.

Sources:

www.Acehardware.com
http://www.plowhearth.com/category.asp?section_id=2008&department=3063&search_type=category&search_value=1122
http://icwdm.org/Inspection/gardengrass.asp
http://www.wise4living.com/hgfence/garden.htm
http://www.wise4living.com/hgfence/ornamental.htm