Galvanized Chicken Wire Question

[Haoleguy]

My spouse and I are getting our vegetable garden ready for planting in the next 2 weeks. Last year we fenced it in to ~7ft height to keep deer out and went 6in down and 6in out in the soil to keep voles and rabbits out. This was done with 3ft high galvanized chicken on the bottom which makes up the 2 ft above ground and 1 ft below ground. I noticed that our galvanized chicken wire mesh at ground level and below is corroded and breaking up. Didn't think that was going to happen. Anyone else have this problem? Well the upshot is I need to replace this with something else later this week. Anyone have ideas on what to use as a replacement that will last? .....Thank you, Gary

 

[bp fick]

Sorry to hear that about your chicken wire or poultry netting. I've had better success.

There are many kinds of wire that are much stronger and much heavier, down to 1" openings. The higher price is a bit staggering, however.

TSC.com can give you much to look at and think about.

 

[sweettractors]

That is unusual, Maybe some ferterlize got to it someway and eat thru the galvanizing? Ken Sweet

 

[Mousefield]

We have used chicken wire for a number of years. It will start to rust if at or near the ground but take years. For example if it is in grass which of course is often wet. As mentioned earlier could be some chemical reactions from soil and or fertilizer.

 

[forgeblast]

I think then i would go with the plastic coated wire. i have the wire burried at the bottom of our garden and its working fine still. Also the chicken wire is a bit "thin" maby go with a thicker gauge or something like hardware cloth.

 

[Haoleguy]

Still not sure what caused the corrosion over the winter. Only change was the lime I put down last fall to bring up the pH of the soil. Will be looking for heavier gauge wire coated with a polymer or a stiff polymer fencing material. These veggies that my spouse grows gets more expensive by the minute. Hopefully she will have a good crop this year.

 

[Ford850]

There is a wide quality selection of fence, including chicken wire, sold these days. I came across some that claimed to be galvanized but it looked worse than silver paint. After looking at the tag I found it was made in China. I'm sure it would be rusted after the first rain.

 

[Haoleguy]

The corrosion is only happening at the soil level. From what I've read there are 3 levels of galvanization and most likely I have the lightest/cheapest. I would think that one could walk into a store and buy chicken wire to last like they used to. It's almost like every time I buy something these days that I have to research it. Did you notice that a Hagen Daz pint is no longer a pint? I could go on about what I think about marketing these days but I'll stop here by saying its great to have forums like this one!.........Cheers, Gary