Basic "Fencebuilding" rules?

andrewj · Mar 13, 2009

Hi folks...I need to build a fence around a 3-4 acre apple orchard to keep deer out. I have found in my area a 6 foot fence (or 7) with an electric strand at the top does fine.

The fence I built around a smaller orchard is falling down, since I didn't know what I was doing.

So I wanted to do this one right, putting corner posts several feet in, using concrete, etc.

I am wondering if ther eare rules of thumb, such as wooden posts in concrete every 50 feet with metal T posts every 10 feet in between?

Thanks for the advice!

andrewj · Mar 13, 2009

Aw jeez guys..surely on a friday afternoon somebody is sitting around waiting on teh whistle to blow who knows fencing! Where's wrought iron Harv?

kthompson · Mar 13, 2009

By chance are you near Dillon? On hwy 38 or when it runs into 501 back to Marion you will find many acres fenced for deer. Great looking job. I did not measure it for driving but think it was about 10 feet high and they had about the set up you are talking about. Look about like a light pole post at least very 100 feet with tee post between them.

capt jack · Mar 13, 2009

First rule, Steel posts are set in concrete (way better, but you neet a portable welder) wood posts need to be set in tamped dirt, concrete rots woods posts in 3-5 years. Second, your corners should be doubled (3 posts each direction for a total of 5 upright posts at each corner). 9-10 ft. between T-posts is about right. Guess you already know how to get the wire tight. Good Fencing!
Jack

Ranger Rick · Mar 13, 2009

On your corner braces the width of the brace or distance between the posts should be 2 1/2 times the height of the fence. This will make it so the brace wires are at a smaller angle and make a stronger corner to resist the pull of the fence as you stretch it and animals that push against the fence. The corners are the most important part of the whole fence. Good luck.

two_bit_score · Mar 13, 2009

Don't know if Stay-Tuff fence is available in your area but there website has a lot of good instruction on fence building.

Staytuff.com

sixdogs · Mar 14, 2009

Search Kencove Fence (in PA) online or get their catalog. I learned fencing (and did miles of it) from that catalog.
If you do high tensile and use battens in-between, you can go 100 ft between line posts but there are many things to consider.

mbohuntr · Mar 14, 2009

Up north, the orchard owners keep dogs in the orchard fence, and the deer soon learn to stay away.

andrewj · Mar 15, 2009

Question - one part of the fence hugs a curve in the road over about 300 feet. I hvae 2 "corners" planned that are very small angles, almost a straight line but clearly more corner than line.

Do the corner rules (bracing) apply to even an acute angle?

next question - you say brace is 2.5 times heigth - fence is 6 feet high. Hard to find a 18 foot brace - what would you recommend in this case?