Veg garden fence advice

[adblink]

Looking for some advice. I built my first vegetable garden this year and due to our high rabbit population I need to build a short fence around it.

This is the garden (ignore the X).

It only needs to be 2'-3' high as its already raised garden as you can see. The problem is this garden is directly across from my main entertaining area so I need to make it look aesthetically pleasing as well as effective. I want to use welded wire fencing as its nice and straight looking. The fence would be on the inside of the stone.

But the issue is with lumber. 4x4 as posts I think would just look too big and bulky for the size of the garden plus I think they are over kill for a fence thats only 2.5' high. Do you think I could get away with using 2x4 as posts? Then the issue is how to set them, I can't find 2x4 ground spikes and I don't really know if cementing them is really that needed for rabbits. Also due to the round curve of the garden in the corner I'm always looking at needing at least 2 posts in the corner to make the turn.

Any ideas/advice?

On a side note, do you think setting pressure treated posts along the inside of the garden is a bad idea? I know they use to say it was because the arsenic could leach into the soil but since they changed how PT is treated, is it still a concern?

 

[mustanginky]

Double up 2x4's on the posts and fencing. Sandwich the fencing between it. My bro in law did this on his deck and it looks pretty good.

 

[38Chevy454]

Why not just use metal fence posts? Get the shorter 5 ft ones, and you could even cut them shorter. They are the green painted ones with sort of triangular shape. Easy to tie the fence material onto, and would not be nearly as visible as a large wood 2x4.

 

[FloydShine]

My, you must be dealing with some large aggressive bunnies! Out here on edge of the wilderness, we use a 2ft tall woven wire, or small rectangular wire fence, available at any farm and feed type store, even them large box stores. For posts we always use metal. My favorite is rebar or round bar, custom cut by me, at the length we require. Bale wire to tie the wire fence tight to the posts, and there you have it, a strong fence that you can form to your needs, and at the end of the season, take it apart and store for next season. I know you are concerned about the looks, you can paint the posts and even get decorate top end pieces and create yourself an little wrought iron fence looking style if you need to get fancy to keep your eyes happy. Me, I am about producing crop, not what my guests my think about my presentation of the garden.

 

[Erampu]

Bunnies can dig, so make sure your fencing goes down as well as up.

 

[bczygan]

Looking for some advice. I built my first vegetable garden this year and due to our high rabbit population I need to build a short fence around it.

This is the garden (ignore the X).

It only needs to be 2'-3' high as its already raised garden as you can see. The problem is this garden is directly across from my main entertaining area so I need to make it look aesthetically pleasing as well as effective. I want to use welded wire fencing as its nice and straight looking. The fence would be on the inside of the stone.

But the issue is with lumber. 4x4 as posts I think would just look too big and bulky for the size of the garden plus I think they are over kill for a fence thats only 2.5' high. Do you think I could get away with using 2x4 as posts? Then the issue is how to set them, I can't find 2x4 ground spikes and I don't really know if cementing them is really that needed for rabbits. Also due to the round curve of the garden in the corner I'm always looking at needing at least 2 posts in the corner to make the turn.

Any ideas/advice?

On a side note, do you think setting pressure treated posts along the inside of the garden is a bad idea? I know they use to say it was because the arsenic could leach into the soil but since they changed how PT is treated, is it still a concern?

2x4's are fine. Treated is OK. Use 1x2 stops to fasten the welded wire to. This detail will make the fence seem neater and more permanent. Run a 2x4 top rail with stops as well. For the bottom, use a 2x6 on edge, cut into the ground and a 2x4 on the flat, on top of it, with stops for the wire fabric.

You can get the fabric coated with green plastic for a more pleasing look. And a different shape or size of mesh can make it look less industrial.

And stain all the wood.

 

[Lippyp]

I've just done this very thing around our new veg garden. I used 5ft wooden posts knocked into the ground a couple of feet with 6" diameter posts knocked 3ft into the ground on the corners for strength. I then strained a top and bottom wire around the posts, and then used galvanised wire netting. This goes down below ground level to just under the turf and extends outwards 6' to stop the buggers digging under the fence., the turf then gets replaced over the wire. The netting is clipped to the straining wires using hog ring fencing pliers. Any gates need to have a threshold under them and be close fitting to stop the bunnies digging under them. I used sections of railroad tie sunk into the ground and the gates have closing springs on them to stop anyone leaving them open.

You can see pictures of the process on my thread. here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281165&highlight=vegetable+garden

In a small bed like yours I'd do what we did around some flower beds. I used some iron pipe, drilled a hole just below the top and you could also drill on at the ground level. Hammer them in at intervals, thread a wire through the holes top and bottom and tension and then clip wire mesh to it. You could go completely elaborate and make some wrought iron fencing backed with mesh bolted to the top of the wall. Oh and you'll also need to sink wire down below the wooden fence at the back as they will dig under that happily.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Go get either some metal T-post or round rod slip white PVC pipe over them cut off whatever height you want. If 2 foot tall is what you want, get some white PVC lattice from Lowes, rip it into 2 ft x 8 ft panel and zip tie it to the post. Rabbits have a hard time going through it. You can use PVC pipe glued into a "frame" if you want the lattice "stiffer."

 

[ddurrett896]

I just built one out of pallets. Cost $0 and does the job - atleast keeps the dogs out!

 

[adblink]

Why not just use metal fence posts? Get the shorter 5 ft ones, and you could even cut them shorter. They are the green painted ones with sort of triangular shape. Easy to tie the fence material onto, and would not be nearly as visible as a large wood 2x4.

If it were in the back unseen corner of my yard then I would 100% agree with you, but this is visible from directly across the patio which is my main outdoor living space so I'm trying to make it look nice. Something like this but on a much smaller scale.

I mean yes you are all correct, just hammering in metal posts and zip tying metal mesh too it would be far easier and I agree. I just don't think I can do it without it looking like something on a farm. My stamped concrete patio is 10feet away, it wouldn't exactly go together.

I could try and get black metal fencing posts, like you would find for traditional wire mesh fencing and just use that? I believe you can get black vinyl covered welded wire fencing as well, as long as the spacing is small enough.

That would solve the problem of setting wooden posts into the ground.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I was in a garden center last weekend where they had short posts made like rebar with a triangular piece welded on to hold them in the ground.
I use regular T posts, but I (and the rabbits) don't mind the looks.

 

[Pardigital]

Electric fence!