Fence Project

[Shemp]

I'm getting ready to plant some olive trees out on my land. The wildlife around there will eat them up if I don't put up a good fence. My main worry is keeping the deer out. Tractor Supply has some 6 foot high fence. Is this going to be high enough to keep the deer from hopping over and having a feast? Thanks.

Also, what is a good spacing figure to use for fence posts? 6ft, 8ft or more in between fence posts.

 

[wushaw]

Most high fence deer ranches have 8' plus fences.

 

[6thgpSF]

not sure where you live but 6' would be a hop for a big whitetail.

 

[Shemp]

****! I'm down in Texas around Columbus. I guess I'll get a bigger fence.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Down in Rural Living you'll find a couple of threads on deer problems. It's an interesting topic. There are some people here on TBN that have fought the good fight and won. There are others who are enjoying the fight so much that they're not interested so much in winning as they are in, well, fighting the deer.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Neighbor has a 6' deer fence in 45 degrees outwards. He says the deer will not jump it.

 

[jinman]

Also, what is a good spacing figure to use for fence posts? 6ft, 8ft or more in between fence posts.

10' to 12' between posts is common. For your purposes, I think you could get away with 20' and later add T-posts in between if needed. Your stretching posts need to be substantial and anchored well. Is this going to be as much as an acre? How big will your olive orchard be?

 

[Soundguy]

Ditto what jim said about post spacing if you got good corner and brace posts.. you can go 20' on t-post inbetween.

as for deer fence.. to be 100% safe.. go 12'.. 8' will probably deter all but the best jumpers..a nd 6' will keep alotta stuff out... but not a hungry deer if he -really- wants in.

Deer hop a 6' field fence down by my stepfathers place pretty regularly.

soundguy

 

[Shemp]

10' to 12' between posts is common. For your purposes, I think you could get away with 20' and later add T-posts in between if needed. Your stretching posts need to be substantial and anchored well. Is this going to be as much as an acre? How big will your olive orchard be?

Right now it's probably going to be around 3/4 of an acre with plans to expand as needed. When you say stretching posts I'm guessing something like a 10' 4x4 post concreted into the ground. The T-posts I'm not too sure what you mean there. I was planning on using the tall green posts that I've seen used for wire fences.

 

[wushaw]

T posts come in various lengths, they look like a T if you look at em from the top or bottom and have the ridges on one side and are driven into the ground.

Probably the most used fence post in existence.

 

[Shemp]

T posts come in various lengths, they look like a T if you look at em from the top or bottom and have the ridges on one side and are driven into the ground.

Probably the most used fence post in existence.

Gotcha. We were talking about the same thing. Thanks.

 

[Soundguy]

4x4? please.. that does not qualify as a corner or brace post on a wire fence.. it's a line post at best.

Corner posts for stretching wire fence need to be at least 6-8 x 8.

Tposts are the metal line posts.. some are green /white.. some are red/grey.

soundguy

Right now it's probably going to be around 3/4 of an acre with plans to expand as needed. When you say stretching posts I'm guessing something like a 10' 4x4 post concreted into the ground. The T-posts I'm not too sure what you mean there. I was planning on using the tall green posts that I've seen used for wire fences.

 

[flusher]

4x4? please.. that does not qualify as a corner or brace post on a wire fence.. it's a line post at best.

Corner posts for stretching wire fence need to be at least 6-8 x 8.

Tposts are the metal line posts.. some are green /white.. some are red/grey.

soundguy

Around here most often corner posts are salvaged railroad ties in 3-ft deep holes.

 

[jinman]

Gotcha. We were talking about the same thing. Thanks.

Shemp, it's pretty obvious to me that you are truly a fence building novice. Your comments lead me to believe you have never been in a Tractor Supply or Home Depot/Lowes fence building areas of the stores. I would suggest you go to Tractor Supply and buy one of their brochures they have about fence building an its components. The one thing we can all agree on is that you do not want to build a fence that is going to be destroyed in the first year. You want your fence to last for many years and be low maintenance so you can concentrate on that orchard.

If you don't have experience, then you probably don't have the normal basic tools used to build fences. I suggest you look for somebody to build your fence for you and work with them to learn techniques and tools. If you can't do that, then read everything you can about fence building. Searching TBN can yield some great threads with tons of information. Take what you learn and ask lots of questions before starting. Don't be put off if you get some responses that are a little shocked at your lack of knowledge. Somebody will tell you what you need to know and make sure you understand. You'll also probably take a little kiddin', but that won't cost you anything.

 

[intel]

Don't set the post in concrete. I have seen them rot faster at ground level.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Here is a link that could help you.

Constructing High-tensile Wire Fences

Also a PDF file with information.

This will show you some basic construction and I agree with Soundguy you need 6-8" x 8' corner post. I have build several fences for cattle and horses. The corners and gate post and bracing make or break the fence.

David

 

[richardbro]

Here's a really good book on fence building:

Amazon.com: Fences for Pasture & Garden: Gail Damerow: Books

 

[patrick_g]

Shemp, it's pretty obvious to me that you are truly a fence building novice.

If you contact your extension agent you will be surprised at the available info for fence building.

I am under contract with NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service) and get partial reimbursements for some of my projects, including fences. To qualify for reimbursement you have to build to Government specs. I recently did a quarter mile cross fence and they sent me a 26 page document detailing accepted practices. Lots of good ideas.

Pat

 

[GaryS]

I put in apple & pear trees and put up a 6 foot fence. The deer easily jumped it. I augmented the fence to keep the deer out but now that the trees are going into their fourth year, I'm going to take it down. A friend put in a vineyard and recommended this place Benners for fencing. They have an excellent selection of high quality deer fencing. I also use Kencove - they're also excellent to deal with.

I recommend putting up the fence before planting anything. If they don't know it's there, they stay away. Once they learn there is food there, they will return and break into most any fence.

Good luck keeping the deer away.

gary

 

[steveoutdoorrec]

Neighbor has a 6' deer fence in 45 degrees outwards. He says the deer will not jump it.

If you are only worried about deer this is the way to go. A deer comes right up to the fence and then jumps up and over. This video is a good shot of this. By making the fence overhang where they want to stand to jump you will stop them cold.
Down side is that you will double the amount of poles you need.