Rabbits are adept at both jumping and burrowing beneath standard perimeter fences, necessitating a specialized barrier for gardens and yards. A successful rabbit barrier must address this dual threat by being tall enough to prevent vertical access and incorporating a subterranean defense against digging. Installing this protective fence relies on specific material choices and a precise technique for establishing an underground apron. This guide provides the necessary steps to construct a durable and effective fence that ensures your protected area remains secure from ground-level intrusion.
Choosing Materials and Preparing the Site
Selecting the correct materials is the foundational step for an effective rabbit exclusion fence. The wire mesh must be galvanized or vinyl-coated for corrosion resistance, using a heavy-duty 16-gauge or 18-gauge thickness to withstand chewing and tension. The mesh opening size should be no larger than one inch by one inch to prevent young rabbits from squeezing through the barrier.
The finished height of the fence should be at least 40 to 48 inches above ground level, which is sufficient to deter most rabbits from attempting to jump over the structure. Durable metal T-posts or treated wooden posts are suitable for support, but they must be long enough to account for both the above-ground height and the necessary depth for stability. Before installation, accurately measure the perimeter and clear away any dense vegetation, debris, or rocks that could obstruct the trenching process.
Establishing the Foundation: Posts and Trenching
The structural integrity of the fence begins with setting the support posts firmly into the ground. Space the fence posts between 8 and 10 feet apart to ensure the wire mesh can be pulled taut without sagging between supports. Each post should be driven into the ground to a depth that ensures stability, generally 1.5 to 2 feet, depending on the post height and soil composition.
Preparing the anti-dig foundation requires excavating a continuous trench along the entire fence line. This trench should be a minimum of 6 inches deep and approximately 12 inches wide, running parallel to the fence. The purpose of this excavation is to create space for the horizontal anti-burrowing barrier, known as the L-shaped apron, rather than burying the fence vertically.
Installing and Securing the Wire Mesh
With the posts and trench in place, the wire mesh is ready to be installed, starting with the attachment to a corner post. Unroll the wire and temporarily secure the top and bottom of the mesh to the first post using fence clips or heavy-duty wire ties. Maintain adequate tension as the mesh is unrolled and stretched toward the next post, which helps create a rigid barrier that is difficult for animals to push through.
The anti-dig mechanism is formed by bending the bottom 6 to 12 inches of the wire mesh outward at a 90-degree angle, creating the essential L-shaped skirt. This horizontal flap must be positioned at the bottom of the prepared trench, facing away from the protected area, so a digging rabbit encounters the wire mesh instead of open soil.
Once the mesh is secured to the posts and the L-skirt is properly positioned in the trench, the excavation must be backfilled with the removed soil. Tightly packing the soil above the buried horizontal apron firmly anchors the anti-dig barrier and completes the subterranean defense. After backfilling and tamping the soil, verify that the top of the fence remains at the target height of at least 40 inches to deter jumping attempts. Regularly inspect the entire perimeter to ensure no new digging attempts compromise the integrity of the barrier.