15 Vegetable Garden Fence Ideas to Protect Your Plants (2024)

FAQs

How to fence a vegetable garden? ›

Wire mesh fencing is an incredibly popular option for protecting your vegetable garden from birds and small animals such as rabbits and squirrels. If you don't want to invest huge amounts of money to protect your garden from small critters, wire mesh will do the trick.

Welded wire fencing is perfect for keeping larger animals out of gardens or certain areas of your landscape. With a heavier wire gauge, this fence is strong and durable. Like chain-link fencing, it's also available with a vinyl coating, usually green or brown.

For larger pests like squirrels, birds, moles, and more, you can use fencing, covers made of thicker nets, or hardware cloth to keep them out of the garden space. Of course, with all covers, the goal is not to harm wildlife, just to be sure you get to your harvests before they do!

Plants like rambling roses and clematis are excellent as they will quickly grow with some species of clematis being incredibly fast growing. For most species, however, you can expect a couple of feet growth each year. Honeysuckle is another great choice for covering your fence and will also grow quickly.

If you have animal problems, you need to set up a fence around the raised garden bed. Animals such as rabbits and mice may enter your garden and eat your plants. However, if your area does not have any wildlife, you may not need to fence around the raised garden bed.

Most garden fences are about three feet in height. These barriers are designed to deter entry by common produce-stealing animals like dogs, rabbits, and raccoons. In some areas, larger animals like deer or kept livestock like goats are the culprit. If necessary, a garden fence can extend up to six or eight feet.

The three disciplines of modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also saber); each discipline uses a different kind of blade, which shares the same name, and employs its own rules. Most competitive fencers specialise in one discipline.

The Farmer's Almanac suggests a simple spray to help ward off aphids and grasshoppers, common pests in vegetable gardens. Add 2-4 hot peppers, 1 mild green pepper and a small onion to a blender. Blend and then add mixture to 1 quart jar of water. Pour into a spray bottle and spray as needed (Farmer's Almanac).

Mulch is your greatest help in a heat wave. A good layer of mulch should be at least three inches thick. Remove any weeds that will compete with your plants for the water and add lots of organic matter and compost. This material is absorbent and will hold the moisture until the plants need it.

How to protect vegetable plants from birds? ›

Putting up a physical barrier, like butterfly netting, is one effective way to keep birds away from your garden. Make sure the netting is elevated rather than laying it directly onto your plants, which prevents birds from landing on top and pecking straight through.

What is a fast-growing vine to cover a fence? To disguise a fence, annual vines do the job the fastest. Consider ornamental beans such as hyacinth beans or black-eyed Susan vine. If you are less pressed for time, there are plenty of perennial vines to choose from.

Having a liner is a great way to get the most out of your raised garden bed. Not only can you insulate the soil from extreme temperature changes, but you can also protect against other threats, such as digging pests.

Plastic (non-porous liners / damp-proof membranes)

High-quality plastic damp proof membranes offer the best type of protection for your raised bed.

Build a wire mesh fence at least 3 feet in height and anchored with sturdy posts. Cats probably won't climb over, and most dogs can't knock it over. Bend the base of the fence outward to form a 2-foot wide apron along the ground to discourage dogs from digging under it.