Build
Raised Garden Beds With a Deer Fence
To keep deer out of raised beds, fence the whole bed area 7 to 8 ft high, or cover each bed with hoops and netting. Add a 2-ft wire skirt at the base for rabbits.
| Option | Stops | Height or size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall perimeter fence | Deer | 7–8 ft | A group of beds in deer country |
| Double fence | Deer | 4–5 ft inner, 3–4 ft outer, 3–4 ft apart | Where tall posts are not allowed or wanted |
| Hoops with netting | Deer, birds, rabbits | 2–4 ft over the bed | One or two beds |
| Chicken wire skirt | Rabbits | 2 ft tall, buried 3–6 in | Any bed or fence base |
| Hardware cloth cage | Squirrels, chipmunks | Fully enclosed, 1/2-in mesh | Small beds, berries, seedlings |
| Bed bottom of hardware cloth | Gophers, voles | 1/2-in mesh under the bed | Burrowing pests |
How high deer can jump
A white-tailed deer can clear about 8 ft from a standing start, which is why deer fences are typically 7 to 8 ft tall. Deer are also cautious jumpers. They avoid leaping into a space they can't see clearly or that looks too narrow to land in. That behavior is why a few lower designs work as well.
- Width puts them off. Two fences set 3 to 4 ft apart look like a trap, so deer often won't attempt them, even if each fence is only 4 to 5 ft tall.
- Small spaces put them off. A small fenced area packed with beds leaves little room to land, so deer are less likely to jump in than into a large open enclosure.
- Hunger changes the rules. In late winter or a dry summer, deer take more risks. Plan for a bad year, not a good one.
Fence options around beds
A single fence around all your beds is usually cheaper and easier than protecting each bed separately. Inside the enclosure, keep walkways 18 to 24 in wide and allow a 3-ft gap inside the gate if you use a wheelbarrow. For bed and path spacing, see the raised bed layout guide.
Common fence types:
- Polypropylene deer mesh on posts. Lightweight, nearly invisible from a distance, and easy for one person to put up. Use 7 to 8 ft mesh on steel T-posts or wood posts set about 10 to 15 ft apart. Stake the bottom edge tight to the ground so deer can't push under it.
- Welded wire or woven wire. Stronger and longer lasting than plastic mesh. Often run 4 to 5 ft of wire, then extend upward with mesh or high-tensile wire to reach 7 to 8 ft.
- Double fence. Two fences 4 to 5 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft apart. This keeps a lower profile and can suit yards where tall fences are restricted.
- Wood posts with wire panels. The most permanent option, and the one that looks most like part of the garden. Leave room for a gate wide enough for a wheelbarrow.
Whichever you pick, check the fence after storms and after the first heavy snow. A sagging corner is all a deer needs.
Hoops, netting and covers
If you have only one or two beds, cover the beds instead of fencing the yard. Bend 1/2-in PVC pipe or 9-gauge wire into hoops and set them about every 2 to 3 ft along the bed. A 4-ft-wide bed takes hoops about 8 to 10 ft long for a cover tall enough for upright crops. Drape the hoops with deer netting, bird netting or insect netting and weight or clip the edges.
Covers do several jobs at once. Insect netting keeps out cabbage moths and other flying pests, and lightweight row cover adds a few degrees of frost protection in spring and fall. Make covers easy to open, because you will lift them to weed, water and harvest. Remove or open netting over crops that need insects for pollination, such as squash and cucumbers, once they flower.
Rabbits, squirrels and birds
- Rabbits. A raised bed's walls help only if they're taller than a rabbit's reach, which is not much. A 2-ft fence of chicken wire or 1-in hardware cloth, with the bottom buried 3 to 6 in or bent outward along the ground, keeps most rabbits out. Fasten it to the bed frame or to short stakes.
- Squirrels and chipmunks. They climb, so a fence alone won't help. Use a lid or full cage of 1/2-in hardware cloth over seedlings, bulbs and berries.
- Birds. Bird netting over hoops protects ripening strawberries and newly sown seed beds. Keep it taut so birds don't get tangled.
- Gophers and voles. Line the bottom of the bed with 1/2-in hardware cloth before filling. It is much harder to add once soil is in.
Kits with fences built in
Some raised bed kits come with a fence, a cage frame or a hoop and net system that fits the bed. They are convenient for one or two beds, but most are not tall enough to stop deer on their own. Before buying, check:
- Height. A frame under 7 ft works for deer only as an enclosed cage with a top or netting.
- Mesh size. 1 in or smaller stops rabbits; 1/2 in stops squirrels.
- Access. A hinged lid or a door you can reach through matters more than looks.
- Anchoring. The frame should fasten to the bed or to ground stakes so wind can't lift it.
The raised garden bed kits page lists what else a good kit includes, and how to choose the best raised garden bed compares materials and heights. Any bed, kit or homemade, can also be paired with a separate fence or hoop cover.
How to choose
Several beds, heavy deer pressure
Fence the whole area 7 to 8 ft high, with a gate wide enough for a wheelbarrow.
One or two beds
Cover them with hoops and deer or bird netting you can lift easily.
Tall fences not allowed
Try a double fence: two 4- to 5-ft fences set 3 to 4 ft apart.
Rabbits only
A 2-ft chicken wire skirt, buried a few inches, is usually enough.
Related guides
- Raised garden bed kits: what to look for
- Raised bed garden layout and spacing
- Best raised garden beds: how to choose
- Elevated raised garden beds on legs
How tall should a deer fence around raised beds be?
Plan on 7 to 8 ft, since deer can clear about 8 ft. A 4- to 5-ft fence works when paired with a second fence 3 to 4 ft outside it, or when beds are fully covered with netting.
Do raised beds keep rabbits out?
Only very tall ones. Most beds are low enough for rabbits to hop in or reach over. A 2-ft skirt of chicken wire or hardware cloth around the bed solves it.
Can netting alone protect raised beds from deer?
Yes, for a small number of beds. Deer netting over hoops keeps deer from browsing as long as the edges are pinned down and the cover is closed each night.