I have mentioned in the past, our neighborhood has a growing problem with deer. They are so comfortable here, they bed down in back yards, and it’s not uncommon to see a whole family strolling down the sidewalks, sampling from every yard as they go. There is not much I can do about what they eat from my front gardens, but I’ve been at war with them in my back yard for several years now.
For beauty and privacy, I’d been growing a privet hedge and also a long hedge of lilacs for a couple years. But slow growing parts of the hedges have allowed the deer points of entry, where they could easily jump the lower areas. I finally decided I’d had enough of them eating my flowers whenever they wanted and it was time to take action. The other two sides of the back yard already had a 6-foot wood fence, so I decided to splurge on a 6-foot privacy fence to close off the remaining side with the slow growing hedges.
Every yard with a chain link fence is an easy target for the deer, and chain link fences are so ugly anyways. The photos below show the chain link and how it looked before.
Unless you have a stunning background, when creating garden rooms, it is invaluable that the eye has a place to stop and rest. A chain link fence and an ongoing view of all the neighbor’s yards, is not my idea of a pleasant backdrop.
So, last weekend, the men came to install the fence, and I couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Now, instead of the birdhouse on the old arbor being lost in the endless view of backyards, it has a backdrop to frame it and make it a focal point.
In spring, the fence will play a supporting roll, and allow the lilac hedge to take center stage and show off its glorious blooms.
In winter, the privet hedge will now provide night time lodgings for birds, with the fence becoming a wind break from the cold.
The picket fence that cuts the backyard in half, used to look like it ended in the middle of no where, but now has a finite end.
And I can still see the top of the beautiful shed that is two yards down, without everything in-between.
While outside taking these photos, Moby got himself into a tangle with a raccoon. It was a frantic time as I struggled to separate them without getting bit by the raccoon or dropping my camera. Dachshunds are very aggressive when it comes to wild animals, and Moby was most reluctant to give up the fight. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I was able to separate them long enough for the raccoon to slink away and crawl under the shed. Moby was immediately given a bath and rushed to the vet, where the bites on his nose and neck were tended to. He was put on antibiotics and pain meds and the vet said he was a lucky dog. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if I had not been outside at the time. So, while the fence will help with the deer, unfortunately, it will not keep possums, raccoons, or skunks out of the yard.
Peacefully recuperating on the back of the couch, but I seriously doubt he learned his lesson. If you look closely, you can see the bite on his face, halfway between his eye and his nose.
Your new fence is beautiful. Love it all. And sorry about Moby. Our Mazy is the same way (she is part Dachshund), and goes after the wild animals viciously. Glad your pup will be ok.
Thanks Barb. I’m so happy with my fence and I love having privacy instead of being watched.
Unfortunately Moby will never learn with raccoons or skunks. He’ll have to stay on the leash for a few days until he forgets.
Oh, dear, how scary…I hope you weren’t hurt in the kerfluffle. I expect he had to get a rabies booster? Anytime I see a racoon in the daytime, I worry about that. Hope Moby is recovering well, the little rascal, yet mighty protector!
And the fence looks great! Is the green wash a paint or pressure-treated? If so, it’ll last almost forever!
It was very scary. Even though I had my foot in there trying to get them apart, the raccoon never made any attempt to hurt me. He was losing the fight and just wanted to get away. I’m glad he did, but the vet said he’d most likely die from his wounds.
The fence is pressure-treated, but will look better in the spring once it has weathered and turned a more natural shade of gray/brown. I can hardly wait to see it as a backdrop with flowers blooming, but it’s a long time until spring.
That is scary with the raccoon. I know when we lived in CT, they told us to have raccoons shot if seen in the daytime. I’m not sure who would find them or shoot them. Your fence looks great. Where I live everyone has a 6 foot fence around their yards. It doesn’t stop the smaller animals, as they have holes dug on every side of the fence. I have to put up with deer and feral hogs in the front.
I guess I should be grateful we don’t have feral hogs. Now that sounds dangerous and scary. There have been coyote sightings in the neighborhood, but I’ve never seen one, and don’t want to.
I agree, it looks much better with the wood fence. Glad you there to rescue your furbaby!
I love the fence. I don’t know why I waited so long to do it. Wish I had put it up years ago, and I know I’ll really enjoy the privacy next summer when I practically live out there.
That does look so good Cindy! And the shelter from the wind is a great added benefit for the plants as well as wildlife. Hope Moby HAS learned his lesson – so lucky you were around. I had no idea raccoons were so viscious. Glad we don’t have them here!
I wish Moby had learned his lesson, bu he’ll never change. Dachshunds were bred in Germany to route out badgers and he loves nothing more than to catch a wild animal. He’s caught lots of possums and even a few squirrels. And a few skunks have got him, which is the worst.
Raccoons are cute to look at, but viscious. They carry rabies and distemper and are more suspicious for those diseases if you see them out in the daytime. They are mostly nocturnal, and love to get in people’s garbage at night. I live in a neighborhood with lots of old trees, so we have lots of those critters here, and even an occasional fox and coyote.
We are out in the countryside but have a fence around the whole property. Still, that doesn’t stop the hares, weasels and the odd fox or pine marten getting in, but the deer are ‘safe’ outside. We see them often. Unfortunately they are hunted and it is sad every time I hear a shot ring out. Most hunters have a dog, usually a dachsund. They are such sweet dogs, but with a strong will of their own!
You are so right about their strong will, especially when it comes to getting an animal.
Your new fence makes a wonderful difference, Cindy. Poor Moby! I knew raccoons can be feisty but I didn’t think they’d go after a dog like that.
This poor guy had no choice. Moby was determined to kill him and he had to fight. Raccoons do have a nasty reputation, are vicious, and are especially known to be carriers of rabies. A raccoon out in the daytime is never a good sign. The vet said the raccoon likely had distemper and would die from his wounds in the end. All my childhood years growing up in the country, I never saw any of these animals. But wild animals in the city live a hard life.