Fence advice

[matlori]

We are planting our garden this weekend, it is a new plot and the first year that we have planted big. The garden is 100 x 200 feet. We are thinking that we will need to put up a simple electric fence (we already use electric here) because of our 1 year old Komondor dog. We think that she will tear up all the transplants. We were not planning on this so we need something fast and cheep. We have nail in insulators. Is there a way that I could use the old palets that are around here for posts? She is scared to death of electric fencing so it on ly needs to be strong enough to stay in the ground. Also looking for ideas on how to put the insulators onto the "posts". I am thinking everything would just split if we hammer it all in.
i just didnt think about needing a fence to keep the dogs out. newbee mistake i guess.
Lori

[unregistered168043]

I like step in posts with insulators...simple, cheap, easy to put up.

[91redford]

we just planted our new garden plot and the fence was the first thing we planned out, we have a lot of dear & elk around and cats and rabbits and what not, i figure it's not worth all the work unless it's protected. if a strand of hot wire will work maybe you can bust apart those pallets and make some short "posts", use a small drill to start a pilot hole before you attach the insulators and it should prevent splitting.

[matlori]

redford, thanks for that, a pilot hole, thats a thought. I should have thought of that one on my own! What can I say I'm all out of coffee! We would love to use step in posts, but the fence was not in the budget, so this must be done with what we have around, next year we should be able to have no fence. The puppy is only a year old, she will be better next year, and if not, we will already have a fence up.

[rambler]

Bundle of 10 step in posts should be under $25 on sale at many farm supply stores right about now, will find use for them the rest of your homesteading life.

If not now, would be something to invest in when you can. They don't wear out much, and have good resale if you need to get rid of them. Such items are a solid investment on a farm/ homestead.

I realize I'm a little different scale, but I fence 40 acres of field every fall with them. Always grab them cheap at farm auctions and such.

Paul

[dkhern]

split the pallets up and drive a piece into ground hang wire wood doesnt conduct electricity only time you might have problem is during rains wet wood will conduct but if dog is afraid the wire will be the deterent rather than the electricity.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by dkhern

split the pallets up and drive a piece into ground hang wire wood doesnt conduct electricity only time you might have problem is during rains wet wood will conduct but if dog is afraid the wire will be the deterent rather than the electricity.

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This, you could even get fancy.

Pull the slats off the pallets, use circular or reciprocating saw to trim one end into a point, drill a 1/4" or so hole at the desired level for the hot wire or wires, drive the "posts" and thread the wire through the holes. Done.

[matlori]

That is very interesting about not using insulators! I will have to remember that in the future if we need to put something up fast for animals already trained to it! I did have many step in posts, but I had the plastic ones, and they all over the years broke in cold temps. I would like to build up a supply of non plastic ones though, and thanks for the tip of buying them used! All the posts are in and insulators installed, just the wire needs to go up now. The garden did not get planted yet as we have had non stop rain here in Alberta since the day after my last post! At least the cattle have nice grass now.

[Bearfootfarm]

That is very interesting about not using insulators!

Use insulators if you expect the fence to work like it should