woven wire and weed control

[rald]

Gap or no gap? I am trying to visualize how difficult it will be to maintain a new fence planned along one side from of my property. The old shared fence has large holes and is overgrown with shrubs on the other side.

Is it worth considering leaving a couple feet gap between the old fence and new fence (42" woven and barbed at top) to make it easier to remove limbs/weeds and repair since I can't count on permission to go on neighbor's property? I am strongly considering running hot offset wires along inside of fence to keep goats from testing the fence.

I was hoping to hear from anyone with experience maintaining woven wire. The perimeter fence is used to keep goats inside and keep out predators that go for goats and chickens.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I put our fence down to the ground then weed spray along it each year. It keeps the weeds down and if you spray properly you won't get much overspray that would kill anything on your neighbors property.

 

[JimRB]

My neighbor has metal stakes and hog wire. I installed 4x4 PT posts right next to his. I nailed my wire on my side of my posts. There might be 6 inches between my wire and his. Their goats keep the gap clean enough. I do Roundup on other areas of my fenceline where I do not need to worry about goats or horses eating what I sprayed. Horses are rotated off when Roundup is used. Actually I weed wack more than I spray as I am not that big of a fan spraying. I held the wire off the ground a few inches but I go through a lot of string wacking my 4,000 feet of fence line.

 

[Ken45101]

If you leave a gap between the fences, you have to be very aggressive in keeping weeds down or it will grow up and you will not be able to maintain it. There is also a long term issue (dependent on YOUR state law) where the fence could become the new property boundary.

As far as maintaining the other side of the fence, again, depending on your state law, the neighbor may be required to maintain his side and/or the law may give you the right to maintain the far side. You might check with your local farm agency about such issues.

 

[forgeblast]

I pegged (tent pegs) my fence into the ground and then put modified down until it covered the fence and its helped with the weeds, helps me know where to spray also.
It keeps the dogs in the area and they dont seem to dig as much to try to get out.

 

[MMagis]

The goats will keep it clean for you.

 

[RoMad]

When I bought my place I went over to the neighbors and told him the fence was in bad shape between us and I wanted to replace it. He said if I would supply the posts and labor he would buy the fence. So I did.
We recently bought the place on the other side of ours and on that side there are two fences about 8" apart. I asked that neighbor and he said the lady that owned my place before wouldn't let him take down her fence when he put up the new. I think I will ask him if I give him something in writing that says where the property line is and then take down my old bad fence. To me it just doesnt' look right to have fences 8" apart.

 

[Western]

When I bought my place I went over to the neighbors and told him the fence was in bad shape between us and I wanted to replace it. He said if I would supply the posts and labor he would buy the fence. So I did.
We recently bought the place on the other side of ours and on that side there are two fences about 8" apart. I asked that neighbor and he said the lady that owned my place before wouldn't let him take down her fence when he put up the new. I think I will ask him if I give him something in writing that says where the property line is and then take down my old bad fence. To me it just doesnt' look right to have fences 8" apart.

Agree on that 8"?? kind of redundant. Just cant fill the gap with cement!!

 

[rald]

Thanks for the advice. I did stop by the county office. One staff member said she has heard about various lawsuits over fencelines including disputes over the gap area between fences. She said the county did not regulate fences and could not provide advise on any specific TN state statutes.

The old fence is pretty worn and has been 'swallowed' by trees so it's not really possilbe to replace it in the same spot anyway.

It doesn't sound like it will be a chore to keep the excessive growth down, especially if I let the goats help. I think I will leave as small a gap as possible for installation.

RD

 

[Western]

Rald,

Have you tried speaking with the adjoining land owner?? That may reap you great rewards, they may help finance the fence or not, but you would get a feel for em anyway. Tell them your goats bite!!!

 

[MMagis]

The old fence is pretty worn and has been 'swallowed' by trees so it's not really possilbe to replace it in the same spot anyway.

Yes it is. It would take work, yes. But it's possible. I've re-done many old overgrown fences that were encased in trees. Putting a fence off the property line invites trouble years down the line. Most people will assume that the fence is the property line, and you're basically giving up use of that property.

 

[ustmd]

If you are concerned about "conceding" part of your property to your neighbor because you off set the fence linge from the property line, you should do some research/google "adverse possession" in your state.

I know laws vary significantly from state to state, but here in Texas changes in property lines (i.e. adverse possession) are specifically excluded because of the building of fences:


"Casual enclosures" and "convenient fences" do not necessarily establish adverse possession to property within the fence lines. A casual fence is either one built by a former property owner or one designed to fence out livestock, not to enclose the property. A fence of convenience varies from the true property line because topographical features such as creeks, gullies or cliffs make it physically impossible to do otherwise. In such cases, the owner on the other side cannot claim adverse possession to the property between the true boundary line and the fence location."

That being said, you may also need to be concerned about creating an expectation by your neighbor where the property line is...even if his expectation is not legally enforceable, it can make living next to him difficult. Some of the worst arguments I have seen between neighbors have been over this very issue

 

[rald]

I don't want to build a fence that depends on the good nature of neighbors to maintain their side of a fence. I am in a mixed rural area, so non agricultural neigbors are under no legal obligation to maintain their side of the fence in my state. (even if neigbors were under legal obligation - I would like to avoid disputes with good planning).

One stretch of property-line fencing leans into my property due to weed overgrowth on a slightly sloping stretch of land. This field fence is only supported with t-posts. I initially thought a gap of ~3ft between old and new fence would allow me to keep weeds/thistle/vines off the new fence. The gap would work, but it wouldn't look right and I don't want to give up use of property. I think I can get extra protection by using more wood posts - this will cost more in time/money, but will tolerate more weed pressure if the other side is not maintained.

I appreciate all the different thoughts - they really help avoid some of the unintened consequence of what seemed like a good idea at the time.

RD