Use Raised Garden Beds to Battle Deer and Dirt

The How Do Gardener ^ | March 10, 2012 | Rick Bickling

[orsonwb]

One of the best ways to combat the deer, the dirt, and freezing temperatures, while optimizing your available garden space, is with the use of raised garden beds...

[orsonwb]

Never thought of using PVC pipe to make a frame that I could put deer net over on my raised beds. Think I'll try it.

[Yooperman]

I use an electric fence, works great.

The cost of PVC pipe and a net to cover a 30 X 80 foot garden would be prohibitive.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Garden ping list?

[alnick]

Instead of landscape fabric at the bottom, use cardboard or several layers of newspaper. There are a couple of advantages over LF.

You do not have to till or remove the grass. Just plop it right on top of the grass.

Also, the LF will prevent earthworms from accessing your garden from beneath. The NP or CB will allow the worms to till the soil for you by working their way from below.

Less work and a better garden. :-)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Wife has constructed a 2” PVC pipe frame and plastic deer netting to keep deer out of the veggie garden. We’re starting seeds this week.

[orsonwb]

I’ll try the newspaper. Less work is always good. Thanks for the tip.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

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[MissMagnolia]

Can you give a few details of the fence (especially since it is working)? We have deer .... and groundhogs. I’ve been using a portion of my sister-in-law’s raised bed garden next door - they have a dog that keeps the deer & chuckies away. This year, I’m putting the garden on my property, closer to the house... no dog ... so I need to plan for 4-legged invaders.

[Sacajaweau]

Construct a little greenhouse using wood posts and plastic sheeting. I found some super cheap plastic at Kmart...heavy duty..... works for a lot of things. If you get tired of gardening (ridiculous) you can turn it into a dog pen or a children's area (strawberries growing in their sandbox??)

My bro put in "old wallpaper" in his paths. works great.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I used several layers of cardboard/newspapers right over the grass, and then heaped with compost, to make raised bed. Worked great, few or no weeds, and so easy.

[MrB]

I’m looking for someone who would be willing to send me a few (10-20) seeds for mimosa trees.

Anyone on the gardening list have some pods laying around?

We can make arrangements so that I can pay for the stamp.

[MrB]

I’ve heard the secret of keeping deer out is to play upon their natural fears of being enclosed.

Sure, they can jump a 6 ft fence,
but if, in doing so, they are in an enclosure that bothers their “claustrophobic” tendencies, they won’t do it.

So, for fruit trees, a 5 ft fence far enough back from the tree that they can’t reach over, but close enough to be “confining”, will deter them.

But, so will a Great Pyrenees.

[magslinger]

More info on the fence, please?

[Lee'sGhost]

How does newspaper keep the deer out?

[nuconvert]

Thanks. I’ve been thinking of trying this.
What about racoons?

[nuconvert]

“How does newspaper keep the deer out?”

It has nothing to do with the deer. It’s a weed blocker that’s cheaper to use than landsacpe material.

[elcid1970]

Hmmmm.... roast chuckie would go good with fresh garden vegetables.

CCI mini caps make little noise. Just sayin’, whenever Grover Groundhog shows up.

[CynicalBear]

>>What about racoons?<<

Plant cucumbers around the circumference of the garden. Raccoons will not cross because the prickly vines hurt their sensitive feet.

[nuconvert]

ah. thanx

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I had some, will have to check. In any event, I’ll be happy to send you some. May have to wait until next pods if I can’t find the ones I had.