Under the electric fence question...

[jil101ca]

Do you put anything under the bottom wire of your electric fence to stop the grass/weeds for growing up over that bottom wire? I'm putting newspaper/cardboard with used shavings from the stalls on top. I figure this will stop the grass and save me from weed whacking the fence line. That will make time to get other thngs done.

[Bearfootfarm]

newspaper/cardboard with used shavings from the stalls on top

I think that will eventually compost and turn into good soil for growing the grass.
I just set mine high enough so the deck of my riding mower will slide under it

To me, that's less work. I guess it depends on how much fence you have though.
One of mine is over 800 ft down just one side

[Daryll in NW FLA]

Roundup does the trick for me.

[FarmboyBill]

Under the lectric fence Ive got round my rabbit catges, I put particle board I got from work.

[jil101ca]

I think that will eventually compost and turn into good soil for growing the grass.

I figured out that is why I'm doing this again this spring lol so i have now switch to plastic grain bags with the shavings on top. I figure the bags should act as landscape fabric and the shavings look ok. I'm just using the wet ones, no poops

[Bearfootfarm]

plastic grain bags with the shavings on top

That should work much better

[Tricky Grama]

10% vinegar spray, every spring on a hot non-windy day.

[Callieslamb]

Get one of the fence chargers that will kill the grass that touches it. that's what I have. No problems with grass under the fence.

[Farmerwilly2]

Our animals graze it off.

[highlands]

Originally Posted by jil101ca

Do you put anything under the bottom wire of your electric fence to stop the grass/weeds for growing up over that bottom wire?

Ducks, chickens, geese.

[PlowGirl]

I generally have my lowest wire about a foot from the ground. I raise it up as the vegetation grows. While I can delay the inevitable, I can't stop it entirely, so the growth needs to be cut back occasionally. I call it farming.

[Bearfootfarm]

I generally have my lowest wire about a foot from the ground

That won't keep a lot of animals in or a lot of predators out.

My neighbor uses one wire about 3 ft off the ground, and it works great for his horse, but it takes 6 or 7 wires to keep my sheep in

[jil101ca]

1 foot from the ground would not keep my goats where I want them. I work 6 days a week, my hubby works 6 nights a week and I am also a Mom. If I can cut back on "landscaping" I have more time for "farming" I do the farming with little help from hubby so saving some time not weed whacking the fence line is alot of help to me.

[PlowGirl]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

That won't keep a lot of animals in or a lot of predators out.

My neighbor uses one wire about 3 ft off the ground, and it works great for his horse, but it takes 6 or 7 wires to keep my sheep in

Actually, it keeps all the animals that I want fenced, IN, and all the others out. The farm dogs deal with the predators.

[PlowGirl]

The trick to successfully using electric fencing is to train your animals to recognize what it is that gives the shock, and then know to completely avoid it. They need to be able to see the strands clearly, and know that that little wire will knock their socks off.

I only use poly wire with variegated colors and train all of the stock to "see" the thing that provides the shock. Afterwards, a single black/yellow or black/white strand of polywire will actually work, even when unelectrified at times, because they know what that line of wire does.

[Bearfootfarm]

Actually, it keeps all the animals that I want fenced

What kind of animals are you fencing in?

[PlowGirl]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

What kind of animals are you fencing in?

Horses, goats, and pigs. Could probably use it to keep the dogs in, as it keeps them out just as well.

[HoosierHog]

I have a lot of brush on my property I'm in the process of clearing and I run it through the chipper and then spread it on the fence line to help keep the vegation down. Can't say it will work in the long run I have just started doing it but it seems to work for now any way. Hope this helps.