This year's new deer fence worked out wonderfully. Other than the recent tragedy last week when I left the gate open for just a single night. Just one night.
Fortunately, that was after almost all of the veggies have been harvested for the year. I hope the mini apple trees will survive and come back. We'll see... in April.
This photo was in Nov, shortly after the fence was built. This year, having a good fenced garden was a life saver. It gave a better crop of plants that in previous years didn't grow at all due to deer and, sometimes, rabbits. It was far easier to manage that my previous make-shift fencing. I was able to branch out and grow a few things that I wanted to try, and the animals always destroyed before, like beans and peas. Even the supposedly deer-resistant plants, like onions and garlic, did better.
It was wonderful not having to think of my vegetable garden as a battleground against deer, and also rabbits. It was the best, most diverse, most productive garden that I have ever had.
Space is at a
premium. Last winter I didn't have room elsewhere for potatoes, which
don't need that protection. Next year they'll go where I currently
have sweetcorn and old raised beds. That will free up some additional
space. Also, I won't plant so many snow peas, which can spread too much
for the amount that I want. I might move some squash outside of the
fence, although that can be a iffy prospect because deer like some
varieties and leave others alone. On the other hand, raised beds and fruit trees will take up more room than this year, so I need to plan carefully.
No comments:
Post a Comment