Tree Fencing For Less $
The North Shore coastal forest is a significant white tailed deer concentration “winter yarding” area. During winter months the near-shore of Lake Superior is relatively warmer and tends to have lower snow levels compared to areas away from “The Big Lake”. Thus, deer gravitate and concentrate along the North Shore forest landscape–and they are hungry. Tree fencing helps landowners protect young trees from winter deer browsing. Thanks to a generous donation from the Weeke’s Family Foundation, we’ve been able to offer tree fencing packages at a discounted price.
NOTE: Our discount priced fencing program is only offered to North Shore landowners in early spring. Be sure to add yourself to our email list on the home page to be notified when the fencing is available.
Fencing Only Packages – SOLD OUT
Fencing only packages include:
- One 50-foot fence roll by six-feet high
- Ten (10) steel rebar stakes (4-foot lengths)
- 30 zip ties (for anchoring the fence to the stakes)
- A single 50-foot fence roll can create three to five single-tree enclosures, or one 12-foot by 12-foot multi-tree enclosure.
- Cost per package: $40 (30% off actual price)
- Fencing must be picked up at either Isak Hansen’s Hardware in Lutsen, MN or at Seagrens Hardware in Two Harbors. You will select your pick up location when you order.
- PLEASE NOTE: We are SOLD OUT of these individual packages for 2024.
Full-Service Packages
We realize planting trees takes time and physical effort. To alleviate these concerns, we will be offering Full-Service Packages for a discounted cost of $220 – a 50% discount off the actual price.
Full-service package includes:
- One 50-foot fence roll by six-feet high
- Ten (10) steel rebar stakes (4-foot lengths)
- 30 zip ties (for anchoring the fence to the stakes)
- A single 50-foot fence roll can create three to five single-tree enclosures, or one 12-foot by 12-foot multi-tree enclosure.
- Five (5) white pine seedlings.
- Delivery of fencing and seedlings; planting and fencing of your trees. Planting and fencing time limited to 2 hours.
Thank you to our Fencing Program Partners: The Weekes Family Foundation, Isak Hansen Hardware in Lutsen and Seagren’s Hardware in Two Harbors!
Helpful Hints
How to Install Tree Fencing
The following video explains why we use tree fencing on the North Shore and how to install it after planting:
UMN Extension Video w/ Educator Mike Reichenbach and North Shore Landowner Dana Dickson (2022):
Other Protective Measures
In some areas, snowshoe hare will also browse on young trees. In these cases, we recommend also adding chicken wire around the deer exclosure (or directly around the seedling or tree) to prevent the snowshoe hare from nibbling the young seedling & tree.
Fencing Program History
For generations, residents on the North Shore have tried many methods to protect young trees from deer browsing. Many methods have proven to have little to no effect. However, using wire fencing has proven to be the most efficient and effective way to protect young trees when the tree is most vulnerable to deer browsing–fencing is needed until the tree is approximately 7 feet in height, and out of reach for the deer. Since 2015, the NSFC has been able to provide discount-priced fencing to North Shore residents to encourage them to purchase fencing to protect young trees they have planted on their properties. This program has been made available during an annual window, typically beginning in February, and ending in early Spring, until sold out. This program is only available through the generous contributions from the Weekes Family Foundation.