As many Mainers know, building fences in this area can come with quite a challenge sometimes. The ground in many areas of Maine can be extremely rocky, with topsoil being only a few feet or even inches before you hit rock ledge. If your property is too rocky, soil is very compact, or you are just looking for an easy way to build a fence without having to drive T-posts, this easy fence might be an option for you!
When we first arrived to our new homestead property, we attempted to drive T-posts into the area where we had planned to fence in my mother-in-law’s two horses. We first had to clear the extremely overgrown area from brush and rocks, but we soon found out that the area had very little topsoil and lots of ledge rock underneath. Why didn’t we just choose another space for the horses? Well, there was already a barn with two stalls that had been added to the garage area, and unfortunately our homestead land is heavily wooded and has few level areas of ground. This spot was the only option for a horse corral.
So, this began our next question- How do we build a fence without driving T-posts for support?
Whiles this fence was used in our case for a horse corral, this template could be used to enclose any animal type, depending on their temperament and needs.
The strategy we chose:
Build boxes for support areas in place of the T-post supports.
Build boxes using 2×4’s; 8 feet in length. Cutting each board into 6 even sections and leaving 16 inch boards.
Use a plastic liner in the bottom of the box.
Fill the bottom of the box with rocks for added bulk and weight; this allows increased weight in the box and reduced amount of cement/concrete needed.
Use wooden posts, approximately 6 feet in length. You may also use 4×4’s if you do not have logs available. (Luckily, we have LOTS of trees and logs available around here! After all, we do live in a forest)
Use the rocks that were added to the boxes in order to brace the posts in place.
Fill the boxes with a mixture of cement and concrete. (This is best done with at least two people in order to brace the posts during filling.)
Space the boxes approximately 8-10 ft apart.
- You can adjust this for your needs, however, the farther each box is from the others will reduce the stability and integrity of the fence.
Use trees whenever/wherever possible to increase overall stability and reduce the number of boxes and other materials required.
In this area and others, we used flat rocks found on the property in order to fill gaps in uneven areas of ground.
Use rolled fencing or hardware cloth for the fence covering; whatever will fit the needs of the animal or purpose of the area.
Use 2×4’s; 12 or 16 feet in length cut to the appropriate length for added support of the top and bottom fence lines; attach the braces at each post.
Laterally brace the sides for reduction of potential horizontal disturbance or rocking of the fence; and cross brace the corners of the fence to increase stability.
Use prefab metal gates OR build your own.
- We chose metal pipe gates that can be found at Tractor Supply or similar stores.
- Be sure to add a bracing arch over the gate, and lateral in order to increase support.
Fasten the fencing to the 2×4’s with heavy staples or U-shaped brackets.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAVE FUN!
Wouldn’t using hotwire fencing or corral panels be faster and easier?
Some may have easy access to power and use hotwire fencing for an easier and quicker route to enclose animals. However, this is NOT an option for everyone. Your animal barn or lean-to may not have power readily available, and in many cases, the animals may not respect the hotwire and may have a stronger desire to escape than the desire to not be shocked.
Corral panels would be a faster option for fencing, BUT they can be very expensive depending on your area and this is a great option for a DIY that will SAVE MONEY!
Obviously, we are not professionals, and this isn’t the most high-tech way to build a fence, but hopefully it will give you some DIY inspiration for building an animal enclosure or fenced off area on your homestead. Perfect for land that is difficult to work with!