How to Build a Light Garden Gate

A lightweight fence will help keep unwanted animals out of your garden.

Fencing in a garden helps prevent pets and pests from getting into the bed and killing your plants. A lightweight gate makes access easy: when you need to work in the garden or harvest its bounty, you can get in and out without the effort of pushing and pulling a heavy wooden gate. Making your own light garden gate requires little time. Chicken wire or concrete reinforcing mesh keeps out most pests without adding a lot of weight.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 2-by-2 planks
• Saw
• Nails
• Chicken wire
• Staple gun
• Wire snips
• Hinges
• Latch
• Spade
• 2-by-6 plank

Instructions

1. Measure the height of the fence and the width of your gate. Saw four 2-by-2 wood planks to fit these measurements.

2. Nail the four planks together to form the frame of your gate. For a long gate, cut another plank to the width measurement and nail it between the top and bottom planks to add further support.

3. Lay the frame flat on the ground. Stretch the chicken wire across the frame and staple it in place with a staple gun. Cut off the excess chicken wire with wire snips.

4. Set the gate in place between the fence posts. Screw in two to three hinges to one of the fence posts and one side of the gate. Attach a latch to the other side of the gate and the corresponding fence posts so that you can securely close the gate.

5. Install a sill beneath the gate if rabbits or other small pests are the issue. Dig a 4-inch-deep trench in front of the gate and between the two fence posts to hold the sill.

6. Saw a 2-by-6 plank to the same length as the trench. Set it in the the trench on its side so 4 inches of the plank are in the trench and the other 2 inches protrude from the ground in front of the gate. Fill in the dirt around it and firm in place. This prevents pests from entering under the gap beneath the gate and from burrowing under it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use good hinges and keep them well oiled. Even a light gate becomes difficult to move if the hinges rust over.

• Secure the gate to fence posts that are sunk in concrete, otherwise the constant use may cause the fence posts to weaken and fall over.

References

• UnchainYourDog.org: How To Build A Mesh Fence