Keeping Deer Out of the Garden With Only a 4' Fence: Our "Deer Moat" is Working!

My zoning laws prevented us from having a tall fence around the garden, but I ended up being happy about it, because our double fence and "moat" are keeping out the deer plus giving us a few other benefits. :)

[@MichaelMiller-bi7by]

What a wonderful garden! I love the chicken moat but hope it isn't a hawk trough!

[@WellGroundedGardens]

I’m planning overhead cover (mulberries and such) for that EXACT reason. Don’t want to create an all you can eat buffet for raptors. 😬

[@Cecil_X]

I can (an do) have a six foot tall fence behind my primary building. (four feet high allowed in front and side yards) I have never had a deer jump over the fence. While they can, I believe they need a running start to do so.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

I’m jealous-but happy for you! Ours definitely have room for a running start 😕

[@bagsmode]

Awesome timing, I just had a deer break through my chicken wire fence to get into my garden. Luckily, he must have gotten freaked out enough by knocking into the fence that he ended up not eating anything--though he did crash through another section :/

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Ugh, sorry! I had something similar happen at our last property.

[@wyosundancer]

You could have saved yourself a lot of expense. Instead of the second fence a simple thin plain wire at chest height to a deer out about 3 foot from the main fence works equally well. It only requires a few steel T posts and one wire. Montana originated this idea years ago. I have used it when planting small fruit trees. Deer hit the wire, cannot see it and get confused.

[@WellGroundedGardens]

I’ve heard that can work! The garden is right next to our patio and my husband wasn’t a fan of the look of t-posts, so aesthetics also played a role for us.

[@lindalyc]

how about using as Berry Path? Double fences can act as trellis Thanks

[@WellGroundedGardens]

I’ve got a separate area for berries along the north edge of the garden (3’ tall permanent beds) but I do want to use one of the inner fences for grape vine trellising 👍

[@JoMilli]

This is genius! Thanks for the tips!

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Glad it was helpful!!!

[@ftoftheX]

Wow, that is really cool 😎

[@WellGroundedGardens]

Thanks! I’m excited to get the chicken system going.