With the cost of food sky-rocketing, folks from all walks of life are beginning to see the wisdom of revisiting the ways of their grandparents by planting a garden. Growing your own lettuce, red peppers and potatoes can really shave a few dollars off the grocery bill. And, nothing can quite compare to the exquisite taste of the first ripe tomato picked fresh from your own little patch of earth.

Unfortunately, while there is much joy and satisfaction in heading out to pick the products of your labor, it can be truly heartbreaking to get there and find that some other little hungry mouths have beat you to the plate. Many wild animals love crunchy, fresh produce. These beady-eyed creatures don't miss a trick. Even pets can wreak havoc on your prized potager, so consider installing a secure garden fence to make sure your produce is safe from hungry intruders.

Most fence manufacturers have websites and catalogs featuring a wide array of fencing types specific to each problem or pest. Fences come in wire and mesh varieties, electric or non electric. Mesh fences can be taken down at the end of the growing season and rolled up for winter storage.

Rabbits and deer are two of the most destructive pests. Cute, but exasperating, they present quite a challenge. For rabbits, a low fence of small gauge wire, or net may be all that's needed, but if they are persistent an electric fence may be called for. Deer are able to scale great heights. While some people have had success with a five foot high electric wire or net fence, others have had to resort to more costly and permanent measures. The best way to protect the garden from marauding deer is to use Cattle Panels.

Cattle panels are available at most farm and agricultural supply outlets. They are heavy grade, galvanized mesh panels 16' x 5' and 52" high. They can be wired to metal T-posts for a semi-permanent fence - ideal for keeping out very large dogs- or they can be nailed to pre-set 4x4, treated wooden posts, using heavy duty staples. Just one wont do. For best results, set longer, 12 foot 4x4 posts, one at each corner of the garden, and every 8 feet in between. Nail the panels to the posts, one above the other, thereby forming a sturdy ten foot high fence.

Enjoy your safe garden and don't forget to incorporate a pretty, but tall, gate.