Effective Deer Fences

Stop sharing your veggies with deer by keeping them out of your garden.

Deer use their strong back legs to propel themselves to extreme heights and distances, making quick work of short, narrow fences. To effectively deter and keep deer out of your garden, you'll have to work in two dimensions, width and height.

Significance

Deer can jump an average of eight feet high, with the occasional species capable of soaring a bit higher when stressed or chased. Because of deer's inability to jump so high, one effective fencing method to prevent these animals from entering the garden involves single-row fences measuring eight to 12 feet tall.

Considerations

Deer not only jump to extreme heights but can also propel their bodies up and over long distances. This explains why another common fencing method proves effective at preventing deer from entering the garden. Double fences built four to five feet apart and four to five feet tall prevent deer from jumping over and into vegetable gardens.

Expert Insight

Tall fences and double fences are recommended by many university extension programs, alongside electric fencing. Electric fencing, with an attractant applied, entices deer to touch the fence and get a harmless, warning shock that often scares them away and prevents the deer from coming back.

References

• University of Vermont Extension: Effective Deer Fences
• Fine Gardening: Deer-Proof Electric Fence
• Oregon State Univeristy Extension: Reduce Deer Damage in Your Yard

Resources

• West Virginia University Cooperative Extension: Deer Control in Home Gardens