Install a Solar-powered Fence to keep Groundhogs out of the Garden

We have a family of groundhogs that have lived on our property for the past 20 years. Each year they become more assertive at finding ways to enter the vegetable garden and wreaking havoc within the garden. Over the years, we have tried various methods to keep them out of the garden. Finally, the last option was to install a solar-powered fence to keep groundhogs out of the garden.

Before installing a solar-powered fence we implemented two deterrents. First, we installed a fence around the garden. Second, to prevent digging under the fence, we surrounded the fence with wire mesh buried a few inches underground and 12 inches up along the fence. However, last year, the groundhogs found a new way to enter the garden. Instead of digging under the fence, they climbed over the fence. Besides making a mess in the garden, they eat most things including parsley, carrots (tops), radishes (tops), cucumbers, tomatoes, and leafy greens (all types).

The fence has been installed for a month and so far, the groundhogs have not entered the garden. In this post, I share our experience with how to install a solar-powered fence to keep groundhogs out of the garden.

Before you begin…

Check with your local authorities to determine if solar/electric fences are permitted and rules governing the use and installation. Even though the current that runs through the fence is non-lethal to people, pets, and wildlife it does generate an unpleasant shock if the wire is touched. In addition, follow the manufacturer’s installation directions.

We did a lot of research on solar/electric fences. This included speaking directly with fence companies, reading articles, viewing YouTube videos, and talking to the sales associates at Tractor Supply. Ultimately, the most difficult part of the project is determining what is right for your situation. It became clear, that there is no ‘electric fence’ package that you can purchase. Instead, you need to define your requirements and assemble the components that fit your needs.

Therefore, start by defining your requirements:

1. What wildlife are you trying to keep out of the garden? Fence supplies depend upon on what you are trying to keep out.
2. Does your garden have an existing fence around the perimeter? If so, what is the fence made of? This will define the type of insulators you will need.
3. What is the total perimeter of the garden? This is important because it determines how much wire and insulators are needed.
4. How many gates to enter the garden? There are special components for gates.
5. How many corners are there around the perimeter of the garden (if there is an existing fence)?
6. How many months of the year will the fence be in use?

Materials needed based upon requirements

Here is a list of our requirements:

1. Keep groundhogs out of the garden
2. Our garden is surrounded by two different types of fencing (vinyl coated chain link and steel decorative garden fence)
3. The total perimeter of our garden is ~140 feet
4. We have one gate
5. We have six corners
6. Our fence will be in use 5-6 months of the year

Based upon these requirements, we determined that the following materials would be needed to install a solar-powered fence to keep groundhogs out of the garden. The total cost of these materials was ~$200.

• 2-Mile Solar Charger that uses a 4-volt battery, 0.04-joule output, low impedance
• 17-gauge galvanized steel fence wire
• Insulators (These hold the wire as it goes around the fence)
  • Chain-link fence insulators
  • Rod post insulators
• Rubber gate handle
• Six-foot copper-clad ground steel rod 1/2″ in diameter with clamp
• 10 feet of ground wire
• 4”x4”x8 foot pressure treated wood post (to hold the solar charger)
• Electric fence warning sign
• Electric Fence tester

Process to install the fence

It took us three days to complete the installation of the fence. The most challenging aspect of the installation was digging the hole for the ground rod and wood post. Because we have clay soil, you cannot dig more than a few inches without encountering rocks. Digging a five-foot-deep hole took a few days.

Based upon our requirements, we installed one wire 6 inches from the ground around the circumference of the garden.

Step 1:  Charge the solar charger

First, unpack the solar charger. Next, place it outside facing the sun and turned on for three days before use. This ensures that the battery has a sufficient charge to power your fence.

Step 2:  Install insulators on existing fencing

First, you need to determine the height of the insulators from the ground. In our research, the recommended height to keep groundhogs out of the garden is six inches. Second, because we have two different types of fencing, we needed two different insulators. One for each type of fence.

• For the decorative steel post fencing, we used rod-post insulators. One rod-post insulator was installed on each steel fence post. These fence posts were approximately four feet apart. We encountered one challenge. The circumference of the steel fence posts was too large for the included twisting clamp to hold the insulator on the fence. Therefore, instead of using the included clamp, we used zip ties to hold the insulator in place.
• For the vinyl coated fence, we used chain-link fence insulators. These insulators connect directly to the vinyl links within the fence as opposed to the steel posts. We installed these approximately six feet apart. The goal with the insulators is to hold the wire and keep the wire taut.

At this step, you also need a ruler. Use the ruler to measure the six-inch distance from the ground before installing the insulator.

Step Three: Manage the corners

An important consideration when using the insulators is what to do when you encounter a corner. For the decorative fence, we simply used the same insulator at each of the corners. For the vinyl fence, we had to decide between two options.

1. Use specially designed rubber wraparound insulators for corners
2. Use the chain-link fence insulators

We chose to use the chain-link fence insulators because we were able to get the angle such that the wire did not touch the fence as it rounded the corner. In addition, by using this method, we didn’t have the cut the wire at each corner.

Step Four: Run the wire around the fence

If the insulators are installed properly, this step is relatively easy. We started the installation at one side of the gate and ran the wire around the circumference of the fence until we reached the other side of the gate. Starting at the gate, allowed for one unbroken wire around the entire circumference.

Let’s discuss the gate handle and how we began the process.

Gate Handle Install

1. From the end of the wire spool, measure a piece of wire 12 inches long (keeping the piece attached to the spool)
2. Fold the wire in half to 6 inches
3. Fold the 6-inch piece in half again so that you have a 3-inch piece
4. Make a loop with the 3-inch piece by twisting the bottom part of the wire around itself. You now have the ‘loop’ for your gate handle.

From this point, wrap the wire around the entire fence circumference securing into the pre-installed insulators. At each insulator, wrap the wire around the plastic part of the insulator once. Keep the wire taut around the fence. After you have installed the wire around the fence, you will find yourself back at the other side of the gate. Therefore, you will need to secure the wire to the other end of the gate handle to complete the process.

1. Secure the wire to the last insulator before the gate
2. Stretch the wire over to the back end of the gate handle. Add an additional 12 inches to this length.
3. Fold the last 12 inches in half and then in half again, leaving 3 inches.
4. Thread this 3-inch piece thru the non-hook end of the gate handle and secure by twisting.
5. Hook the gate handle into the loop and you have finished the wiring.

Step five: Dig the hold for the post and ground rod

A properly installed ground rod(s) is the most important component of your fence. What worked for us, may not work for you as it is dependent upon your situation including the dimensions of your garden, the amount of moisture in your soil, and the wildlife you are trying to keep out. If your fence is not properly grounded, a shock may not be felt or may be too weak to deter a groundhog from entering the garden.

The basic principle of an energized fence is as follows. First, an animal comes into contact with the wire of the energized fence. Second, the power leaves the positive charge of solar panel and travels along the fence wire. Third, the current goes thru the animal and down their feet into the ground. Forth, the current travels through the earth back to the ground rod. Finally, from the connecting wires on the ground rod, the energy travels back to the negative charge on the solar panel thus completing the circuit.

In our situation, one ground rod driven 5 feet into the ground worked. Some manufactures of solar chargers recommend that three ground rods be installed. Do your homework when determining what is needed. For example, talk directly to the solar-charger companies.

Digging a five-foot-deep hole was not easy in our clay based rocky soil. This took three days of manual effort to complete. Once the hole was dug, we placed both the 4”x4”x8 foot pressure treated wood post and the copper-clad ground steel rod into the hole and backfilled with dirt and rocks. Next, we mounted the solar charger to the pressure treated wood post.

Step six: Connect the ground wire

At this point, you have completed the following:

• Installed the energized wire around the circumference of your garden
• Charged and mounted the solar charger
• Placed your ground rod at least 5-6 feet deep in the ground

Now, you are ready to energize the wire. Make sure the solar charger is in the off position. First, cut and install a length of the ground wire long enough to travel from the ground rod over to the negative ground charge on the solar charger. Second, cut and install another length of ground wire long enough to travel from the fence wire over to the positive charge on the solar charger. Third, turn on the solar charger and test the charge on the fence using the electric fence tester.

Step seven: Hang the electric fence warning signs

We hung three signs around the fence (the signs came in a package of three).

Step eight: Maintenance

Keep vegetation from growing up to and touching the energized wire. Vegetation touching the wire may reduce the voltage of the fence. We solved this problem by laying down a 1 foot wide strip of cardboard around the perimeter of the fence. Next, we covered the cardboard with mulch.

Visually inspect your fence each week. Check the insulators and the connections for the gate. Finally, test the fence periodically to see how the charge is holding up.

In conclusion, I wish you good luck with deterring groundhogs or other wildlife from entering and causing damage to your garden. We have found the single wire solar powered fence to be a good deterrent. I hope you have found this post useful in your research to install a solar-powered fence to keep groundhogs out of the garden.

If you have other pests in your garden, check out this post on Managing garden pests with an integrated approach.

Additional Information

You may find these posts to be of interest.

• Managing garden pests with an integrated approach
• What to do when Robins make a nest on your front door
• DIY wick watering system

References

• Backwood Homes Magazine – Solar Powered Electric Fence
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension – Electric Fence Design