Keeping Out the Wabbits

It’s been 7 years since we moved to this piece of the PNW, and in that time, our garden has gone through a number of transformations.  A bare strip along the northern pathway is now marked by a mix of hydrangeas, blueberry shrubs, grasses, and flowering perennials.  Trees have doubled in size or fallen in snow storms.  Portuguese Laurels are lining a southern section affording a bit more privacy while keeping the dogs from barking at the neighbors.  Other changes have occurred too, but it’s the west end of the property that has gotten the most attention, for that is where our vegetable production occurs.  After several years of “sharing” our harvest with bunnies and other critters, we installed a terrific fence.  I say it’s terrific because it is a sturdy, attractive barrier that also lets light through to the plants on the interior side.  It also functions as a trellis for espalier trees, clematis, and climbing sweet peas (a big annual must for me).  Plus, it keeps out the those pesky wabbits. As you can see from the photo, we used hog wire panels encased in chunky cedar posts and railings.  The fencing also incorporates a pergola at the far end, three gates, and an arbor in the middle.  Big kudos go to our gardener, Ben Kohler, aka world renown goodwill ambassador Mini Ben, for installing it.  Let me know if you’d like detailed photos of how it was constructed.

A shot of my Wabbit-Proof fence from the inside. Note, we also added chicken wire along the base, 12 inches both above and buried below ground to keep out the critters.

A shot from the other side of the fence a year later. You can see how the plantings bordering the exterior grew in.