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You’ll need to bury the garden fence about 1 foot underground. It’s tempting to save on materials by burying the fence just a couple of inches, but if you do so, determined pests will still be able to dig under the fence and access your plants. Burying your garden fence deep into the soil is an important step that allows you to attach a wire barrier to the fencing. 

Burrowing animals (like voles, moles, rabbits, and gophers) can’t dig or chew through this wiring, meaning that you’ll be keeping your prized petunias or your robust veggie garden from being eaten.

Fences made out of redwood, cedar, or pressure-treated pine are the most durable. These materials can last anywhere between 15 to 40 years so long as they are properly maintained. Make sure to clean your fence regularly and pressure wash once a year. After pressure washing, apply a sealant and/or fresh paint to keep it looking fresh.

You have several options for anchoring a temporary fence to keep it from falling down. Sandbags can be used as a standard weight, but they may blow away or fail in strong winds and inclement weather. Spikes and bolts are a cost-effective and easy-to-install alternative, but drilling can be difficult if the ground is frozen, too soft, or too hard. Another option is wind braces, which should be bolted into the ground to withstand turbulent wind; however, like spikes, they can be challenging to install in very soft or hard ground.

Vegetable gardens can easily become a convenient food bank for your local animal population, whether it’s squirrels stealing fruit or rabbits munching on freshly grown veggies. If you want to keep those critters out, it helps to put a fence around your vegetable garden that’s at least a couple of feet tall to deter any animals from getting past it. Just make sure your fence doesn’t interrupt the amount of sunlight your garden needs to thrive.