ALwoodsman
Member
Has anyone tried a PlotSaver system or anything similar? I don't really want to invest in an electric fence for my plots.
Plot Saver?
- Thread starter ALwoodsman
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Jeff H
Well-Known Member
I used Plot Saver with great results a few years ago growing sunflowers. I ended up with a "test" area that was outside of the fence. The difference was dramatic. The plants outside of the fence was eaten to the dirt.
You have to respray it every couple weeks though. It's not a one and done deal.
I used Milorganite last year for the first time. I did not have a test area so no way to compare but the plot got a good start which is what I wanted. It's only good for a couple weeks also. I think both work fine. Nice to have options.
Oh, one benefit to the Milorganite is you can use it for other areas that you don't want deer in...like the boundary between you and your PITA neighbor.
You have to respray it every couple weeks though. It's not a one and done deal.
I used Milorganite last year for the first time. I did not have a test area so no way to compare but the plot got a good start which is what I wanted. It's only good for a couple weeks also. I think both work fine. Nice to have options.
Oh, one benefit to the Milorganite is you can use it for other areas that you don't want deer in...like the boundary between you and your PITA neighbor.
Kabic
Active Member
I was going to try using some Milorgranite, but never got around to it. On the plus side it is 5-2-0 fertilizer so there a little extra benefit.
When you used it how much did you apply per acre?
FYI on sale at Farm & Fleet(WI,IL,IA has stores) for $6.99 a 36 pound bag.
ALwoodsman
Member
Ha ha! Don't get me started on my PITA neighbor. I have a new story about him.
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Semisane
Active Member
Something I've thought about but never tired is to surround the plot with cheap Caution Tape and zig-zagging some across the center of the plot. It may do the job long enough for the plants to get a good start.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-3-in-x-1000-ft-Caution-Tape-3-Pack-71-1003HD/204389331
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-3-in-x-1000-ft-Caution-Tape-3-Pack-71-1003HD/204389331
Wild Thing
Member
Have used Plot Saver years ago but as mentioned you have to keep freshening it up often. Finally went to solar power E-Fence and haven't looked back. 2-Fence system, 3' apart, 1 strand of polytape on the outside and 2 strands polytape or poly wire on the inside. Steel T-posts on the corners and fiberglas step-in posts every 30' for line posts, Parmak 6 volt solar charger and 2 steel ground posts. I have to erect it and take it down every year as I rotate crops but you can re-use everything for years. I have enough to fence 3 plots now.
I've got a buddy who is a cop, and I need to hit him up for some "Police Line- Do Not Cross" tape for a couple of neighbors who like to ignore property lines. Then I need to make chalk outlines of bodies with fake blood just inside my property. Couldn't hurt, might be fun!
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Cutman that is very surprising that it did not work. The Gallagher design of one wire on the outside line and three on the inside worked good for us AFTER we trained the deer that the wire was there. We did lose a valuable plant in our one care flower garden to one deer who braved the shock;we added a fourth inside wire and he never returned.
"Training" consisted of aluminum foil twisted into cups placed every fifty feet or so on the outside wire with peanut butter on them. Two or three days of that and the deer got the message. Did you train them like that or in a similar manner?
The only other thing I can think of--did you test the electrical kick on your wire with a tester? If not there would be no way of knowing if the charger was not working or if it was putting out too low of a shock.
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
We regularly had 8 and sometimes higher on ours;possibly that was the difference. I can't tell you that it is 8 Kv though or what it is as the tester is currently in winter storage. Everyone in the coffee shop that had fences tested their fences when this subject came up there and the reading of eight was a pretty high reading. I've heard that it is hard to train them after they have been violating the fence as well.
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
I'll dig my tester out next week and be sure we are comparing the same test units. I used the strongest Tractor Supply charger with a car battery. I'll get back to you on this when I confirm what my tester number refers to.
Jeff H
Well-Known Member
Roughly 80 to 100 lbs per acre. I put 2 bags down on a plot that is a little less than an acre. I'm not sure if they are 40 or 50 lb bags.
Jeff H
Well-Known Member
Yeah, my new neighbor had a major issue with me building a shooting house that is 96 yards from the border facing away from the border,(no windows on the back side) yet he sets 20 yards inside the border facing my property.
That property line got fertilized every couple weeks with milorganite!
