Fencing Question

[beenthere]

Most trees don't do well with a strap around them, as the growing layer (cambium) under the bark will distort from the pressure, and cause that area to possibly die and possibly kill the tree. But whether it does or does not, depends on a lot of different variables. I wouldn't recommend it on a tree that is important.

 

[AndyMA]

I've used the Mule Anchor system and it works quite well. for info look at http://www.geotekinc.com/fence/index.html

Andy

 

[theboman]

Nail the fence to tree. The tree will grow around the fence, it's a common practice around here. Never seen no damage to trees caused by nailing a fence to a tree. Wraping the fence around the tree I can see how problems may happen with the tree and fence.

Brace. On the corners with a / | \ look, and it don't hurt to do this after long straight runs to add strenght to the fence.

If you suspect you'll be climbing over the fence for any reason build a ladder type section (which doubles as the brace).
And/or
Consider adding a gate or gap in the fence so you and/or neighbors can have access if needed for whatever reason (such as hauling firewood, fence posts or chasing cattle thru).
A gap is a section of fence where the poles are not in the ground and can be pulled back to open. A handy thing.

I've helped to build a lot of fences over the years and it ain't fun at all. It's hard to repair too.

Why only 3 strand? Most in these part are 4. If it's too high at the bottom cattle will crawl under the fence, just as deer. If it 's spaced too far between strands a cattle will step (or try) thru the fence. I've seen horses and deer hurdle 4 strand fence too.

 

[i_want_1_2]

For a young fella, wroughtn_harv makes a lot a sense, except he didn't make it emphatic enough about how important it is to the long life of a fence in not nicking the wire (sorry, Mr. harv!). In today's throw it away society, I wonder who cares?

I was looking at some other posts and was thinking about what's getting lost today - how would someone like to start a thread where folks could archive odds n' ends?

The bucket of sand with used engine oil in it for garden tools, shovels, etc.
Not painting a wooden ladder ( are there any left), but using varnish. Also on shovel and ax handles.
Soaking the ax head in linseed oil.
If you have a real hammer, soak that too. Won't work on the air driven type.

 

[jtn]

Thank you all for the reams of good advice! Luckily I have time to digest it all while the ground unthaws.

To answer some questions, I am not sure what kind of tree it is; I do not recognize it from growing up in New England. Must be one of those Midwest types. It is about 10" in diameter. The corner it is on is between me, my neighbor and the road, thus wanting a solution that looks good. It would not bother my neighbor one way or the other if I went a couple of inches on his property. Lastly, the reason I suggested nailing the fence to the tree is the provious fence was nailed to the tree. The guy I bought my house from fenced in the front piece of property for his goats. by the time I bought it the goats were long gone and the fence was looking rough and the posts were rotting.

I am currently considering using a drive stake near the tree with supports or making a gate as Harv suggested. When I get something up I will take pictures to post.

Thanks,
JT

 

[Anonymous Poster]

When I was 9 or 10, I put a tin can on a tree with a nail.

I was reamed up & down, inside & out by both mom & dad! Man, a person _never_ puts metal into a tree! That lesson was well learned.

We make fire wood from our trees, and at one time had a lot of trees cut into lumber. Metal is a bad, bad, bad thing on a tree! Can actually kill people. Costs thousands to a lumber cutter.

So, I just shutter at the thought of putting nails, screws, or holes with wire in your tree.

In addition, to me personally, it would look really ugly to have the fence attached to the tree. Any other suggestion here would look much better to me. (I guess the folks made quite an impression on this 10 year old!)

I like the (real or fake) gate idea someone had. If looks are important, you could box that corner out, make a square around the tree with 3 corner posts - always looks good if you keep it square, I do understand about just cutting across the corner not being so good. You can do some flower bed or shrubs in the corner to make quite a centerpiece out of it.

Your tree, so don't let my ranting & ravig bother you.

(But, don't nail to it - please.....

On a side note, have you checked local laws on setbacks, especially from the road? Neighbor had to pull his fence & redo it 15 feet back from the easement line. And this is about as rural as it gets. Just a thought.

--->Paul