If you have a vegetable garden, you likely know the frustration of losing part of your harvest to the local wildlife. An aluminum fence can help protect your garden from deer, rabbits, and more! The USA is packed with a vibrant array of fauna, which many of its residents love and cherish. However, for the green-fingered among us, living in an area with a large amount of wildlife activity can prove a challenge, particularly when nursing delicate seedlings fresh from greenhouse incubation. In this article we’ll be looking at how
aluminum fencing can help prevent the ever so common cabbage catastrophes, sprout sabotage, and beet butchery at the hands of puckish wildlife.
The Common Culprits
Of course, the type of faunal foe you’ll be facing really depends on where you live within the States, as well as how rural your property is. While birds and climbing creatures like squirrels and raccoons, and insects such as aphids and snails, are almost impossible to prevent with fencing, some of the common culprits a fence will typically prevent from sabotaging your vegetable garden include deer, rabbits, large rodents, hares, foxes, badgers, and possibly even bears! Many of these creatures are nocturnal, or more active at night, and will often plan their assault on your vegetables in the midnight hours when you’re not around to defend your crops. Therefore, in this regard, having a fence to stand 24-hour vigil really is your best option for guaranteed protection.
A Visual Deterrent
The first reason why a fence around your property or your vegetable patch could be ideal for preventing pillaging from animals is that it serves as a clear and visual deterrent. Shy animals such as deer and even sometimes bears will often try to avoid signs of human habitation as much as possible. A fence, for the timid of creatures, will often be enough of a signal that humans may be nearby to constitute a significant repellant.
A Physical Barrier
Of course, the main way that a fence protects your valued veg is by providing a physical barrier between the wild fauna and your flora. Even the most basic of aluminum fence can prove effective against larger wildlife such as deer, foxes, or beavers. However, to block out smaller plant pests, such as hares, rabbits, and rodents, you may need to be more picky in your design choices. Luckily, though, there are a
whole host of options to choose from!
Why Aluminum?
While we’re all in agreement fencing is the best protection for any vegetable garden, you may be wondering why you should choose aluminum over more classic garden options such as wood. Simply put, aluminum is a much stronger, longer lasting material, which will keep even the most persistent of pest at bay. Wood is inherently known to decay and weaken over time, and can be easily chomped at or worn away by potential intruders, who can create the perfect hole or aperture to allow entry for midnight feasts. Aside from cosmetic factors such as paintwork, aluminum really doesn’t degrade. It is strong and highly rust resistant, meaning your vegetables will be well protected season after season. Aluminum fencing is also incredibly easy to install. Lightweight and available in pre-constructed panels, this type of fencing is ideal for older gardeners or those with little DIY experience.
Choosing your Aluminum Fence
As previously mentioned in this article, some of the more classic styles of aluminum fencing are often more than suited to keep the local beasties at bay. However, for gardeners living in areas where attacks from smaller creatures are common, a
‘puppy’ fence might just give you the edge. Originally intended for owners of small dogs or puppies, this style of fencing features the traditional wider pickets at the top and middle of the fence, with a tighter mesh of pickets at the fences’ lower section. This of course has proven ideal for keeping pets in, but also would work great for keep pests out.
Other Benefits of Fencing
Fencing off your vegetable garden isn’t just beneficial for pest control. A quality aluminum fence can also offer an element of cohesion or design to your garden or yard, clearly delineating different spaces, creating a garden which seems planned, organized, and ultimately, relaxing. You may also find you have other potential plant destroying hazards in your life, such as pets, kids, or grandchildren. A dog that loves digging or a trampling toddler can easily ruin delicate saplings or leafy greens. Therefore, a fence can also provide effective protection from those inside your property as well as out.
Final Thoughts
Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a hobby that is no doubt a labor of love. Rearing plants through to fruition takes time and care, and often many months. A stylish, long lasting aluminum fence can help ensure it is you, and not the local wildlife, which enjoys the tasty outcomes of all your hard work!.
