The Worst Deer Fence Materials (& Better Alternatives To Try)

Investing your time and effort into a home garden or a well-manicured lawn and landscaping can be well worth it. However, it can also feel disheartening when wildlife, such as deer, undo all your hard work. Deer can feed on a variety of vegetation throughout the year. Some of their favorites include leafy plants, grasses, and sedges, as well as berries, flowers, and squash. Humanely keeping deer out of your yard and garden requires a combination of deterrents, including physical barriers and natural ingredients that may repel deer. While some experts recommend electric or polypropylene fencing, there are significant downsides to these options.

Electric fencing is designed to provide small shocks to animals who try to sneak past these barriers. While effective, electric fences can be considered inhumane for both the deer they target and other wildlife that might experience stress and pain when they touch them. What's more, electric fencing is expensive. It is sometimes used in conjunction with other fencing materials, such as those made with polypropylene. While this plastic-mesh-based fence is inexpensive and possibly effective, it does not last long. Polypropylene fencing is also not environmentally friendly, and may pose the risk of wildlife entanglement.

Given the downsides to both electric and polypropylene fencing, it's worth considering better alternatives to keep deer out of yards and gardens. The first possible option is a wooden privacy fence. Different types of wooden fences are perhaps the most aesthetically appealing options for homes and they can be customized in a variety of styles and colors. When considering deer, wooden privacy fences have the advantage of height and reduced visibility; both are considered deterrents that might make wildlife nervous to cross over. The biggest downside is the cost since wood fences are among the more expensive options.

Another alternative is woven wire fencing to keep deer out of your yard or garden. While perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing, this fencing material is one of the most effective and humane deer deterrents. These are constructed out of wires that are woven together to create a strong barrier against any deer that might try to walk against them. What's more, woven wire fencing can last longer than wood fencing in terms of normal wear-and-tear. If you have a relatively large yard, woven wire fencing ought to be 8 feet or higher to keep deer from jumping over them. Before installing either a wooden or woven wire fence, you may consider discussing the best fence options for your backyard or garden with a wildlife control professional.