As stated in “For Love of Goats” “Fabulous fences are a fallacy fervently foisted on foolish farmers.” The same is true for garden fences and gates.
My garden fence started as a way to keep chickens and wildlife out of the garden. This does work for chickens, as long as I remember to close the gates. Wildlife finds this as a minor barrier quickly circumvented or climbed.
PVC Gate Update
I wrote many years ago about constructing garden gates out of PVC pipe. The wood gates disintegrated in a couple of years with the moist Ozark weather. PVC pipe lasts a long time.
At the time, I had never worked with PVC pipe and this did affect the outcome. The other factor was putting the gates together out under the trees on somewhat level land.
Today the gates are still operational. They don’t hang straight because the gate posts lean (Another problem to tackle another day.) However they do not need replacing and do keep the chickens out of the garden.
There is one gate that needs repair. The garden gates have a mid pipe to strengthen them. The top and bottom are about two feet from it.
The chick yard gate is much taller and I put in only the one brace. When I snugged it up tight, the brace broke loose and needs regluing. When I replace this gate, I will use two braces as well as straightening he gate post.
Garden Fences
Most of my garden fence is two by four welded wire. This works for chickens, but not for rabbits. I saw a rabbit hop through the fence. Chicken wire is getting added to the bottom of the garden fences and gates now.
This fix might work for rabbits. Woodchucks, raccoons and opossums just climb over. I suppose it is possible to fence these animals out too. My garden fences and gates will keep me using livetraps when necessary.
