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Fencing to protect fruit trees, etc?
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OtleyLad



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 7:39 am    Post subject: Fencing to protect fruit trees, etc? Reply with quote
    

We're needing to fence off large areas of land to protect plantings of fruit trees, fruit bushes and a range of perennial plants like asparagus, globe artichokes, etc. from rabbits.
What fencing would you use? I've thought of 25mm chicken wire part buried to a suitable depth.
Any suggestions? Is that mesh size appropriate?

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 7:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

From what? Rabbits? Deer? Otley teenagers?

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 8:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The problem with burying wire is the stuff you buy now wont last underground. I did just this around a plot with wire from a reputable local source & it lasted two years in the ground. Above ground still looked fine.
I don't have an answer other than firearms, just don't want to see you waste your money.

Ty Gwyn



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4562
Location: Lampeter
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Agree Tav,any wire in the ground will rot,even pig netting,
All this crap ones read`s about burying chicken wire,like you say,its rotted in 2yrs,if your lucky.

OtleyLad



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
From what? Rabbits? Deer? Otley teenagers?


Rabbits mostly. There are deer about but I'm hoping/pretending they won't be a problem. Dogs of leads might be a problem (a lot of people use the place to exercise their dogs). I'm hoping not many teenagers will see a nature reserve as a cool place to hang out.

Last edited by OtleyLad on Sat Jun 20, 15 9:28 am; edited 1 time in total

OtleyLad



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 9:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tavascarow wrote:
The problem with burying wire is the stuff you buy now wont last underground. I did just this around a plot with wire from a reputable local source & it lasted two years in the ground. Above ground still looked fine.
I don't have an answer other than firearms, just don't want to see you waste your money.


When I've done it before it has corroded just on the surface - it was still intact (albeit rusted) underground and above. I've alwasys wondered how effective it was - the b*ggers can squeeze through the smallest hole anyway.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 9:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I buried chicken netting in the ground, 200-300mm deep, and about 600-700mm above, and it was hard work. If I had got out my little plough, it would have pulled a furrow 7-8" deep with a bit of modification and made life much easier-my veg were rabbit free. It lasted about 8 years-obviously I was lucky! However, but most of my threat came from the flying pests, cabbage white in particular, and the inevitable slug. I now garden in boxes and it is easier to guard against problems-netting and copper wire seem to do the trick.

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

What crops are you protecting it might be cheaper & more effective to use guards instead of fencing the whole plot?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Deer are likely to be just as big a problem and their habit of nipping off the growing tips of fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries etc will stop fruit trees and shrubs from being productive. In which case good deer fencing and chicken wire at the base stops deer and rabbits.

Just for rabbits I'd use guards on trees and smaller areas of fencing. (Actually I'd control the rabbits).

You're also likely to have problems with squirrels and birds pinching the fruit so I'd consider smaller, netted areas.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rabbit netting doesn't really work When we get our plot back up were planning to put a dead hedge around it with rabbit netting inside that. On the old plot the only thing that reliably worked was electric netting

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 15 2:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Tavascarow wrote:
What crops are you protecting it might be cheaper & more effective to use guards instead of fencing the whole plot?

This and a bit of pie: treat the rabbits as part of the crop.

OtleyLad



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire
PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 15 4:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Has anyone used the pvc coated wire? Does it last longer?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 15 10:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the pvc coated with a grid of about 60mm and 3mm wire seems to last underground judging by scrap bits i have had to dig out of heaps

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 15 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

OtleyLad wrote:
Has anyone used the pvc coated wire? Does it last longer?

I've got some of that that I don't know what to do with. Is a bit tall for what you want though I think, and probably too tedious to cut down to size...

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 15 7:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I wouldn't pretend the deer aren't there as you may find they are the culprits and not the rabbits. Rather than bury the wire, you can turn it out and spread it on the surface and weight it down. Rabbits tend to dig against the barrier, so don't go out more than a few inches. I am with the others; you might find it more cost effective to protect trees individually.

As far as Otley teenagers are concerned, we find Hampshire ones, and I suspect they are a similar breed, can be discouraged by saying hello to them whenever you meet them in the wood or village. If they know who they are they tend to lose interest.

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