Well, we made the leap. Grant is installing a 6 and a half foot tall deer fence around the patio garden to finally keep out the deer for good. 

When we first moved into our home 13 years ago, there were a few deer, but it was manageable. They’d typically leave everything along throughout the summer, and measures were mostly needed towards the end of the season when they congregated more in the neighborhood. Not anymore. With some neighbors feeding them, their population has exploded. We can regularly count 8 cruising through the front yard at dusk every night as part of the over 3 dozen who live in the area. A deer fence was necessary. 

Nothing is safe anymore. My tulips are already eaten (because I don’t want to waste eggs on them since they were difficult to find earlier), and they’ve pruned the apple trees for me. Grant put cages around the cottonwoods and other trees he planted since they either eat them or rub off the bark. There is a distinct path going through the front yard, and you’d think the lawn would be lush from all of the manure.

Trying to protect the garden for years

As a result of the growing deer population, I stepped up efforts over the years using floating row fabric and Scarecrows, the motion triggered sprinklers. They worked to some extent. But if either were off for an evening, the results were swift and sudden. They’d even waltz into the greenhouse with the door left open on warm nights. 

Keep Deer away with a Scarecrow Motion Sensor

Next we tried a simple fence. It was easy to put up and didn’t cost much. But it was only 4 feet tall, and was partly to keep out the dog, so it didn’t do much to discourage them. Even using floating row covers with the short fence left much of the vegetable garden vulnerable. 

Stepping it up a notch

With everything going on in the world, and not traveling as I intended, I decided to significantly bump up my garden productivity. But it wouldn’t be possible without serious protection. My original patio garden seemed the most logical choice. We’d have to build a new fence on one side. The opposite end only required extensions on the existing chain link fence. Grant agreed to install a deer fence to keep them out once and for all. 

The basics of deer fence building

Thankfully, Grant can build anything. He purchased an 8 inch hand-held auger to drill the post holes, which was a godsend. Anyone who is familiar with post hole diggers knows using one is far from a good time. Using the same type of engine as on an ice auger for ice fishing, it zipped through the soil. 

The next evening, he and our eldest, Samuel, mixed the concrete and set the metal posts. After a couple of days, they strung the metal 2×3 inch square fencing. We were back and forth on whether to go with metal or plastic for the fencing. I am a strong advocate of the plastic since it is lightweight, blends well into the landscape, and is very durable, lasting well over 15 years in most situations. Grant preferred metal with larger openings. Since he was the one handling it, I was fine with him choosing.

After debating what to do with the gates, he opted to purchase 2 new one that are each 6 ft. tall instead of extending the short one. This is an area where we spend a lot of time so they will look good, as well as be functional.

With the deer fence mostly finished, it looks terrific, and it should be deer proof…unless they start digging.