Animals and yards don’t always go together. Whether it’s in an urban setting with the family pet or rural yard with wildlife, sometimes you need a barrier. An easy-to-install fence can protect your garden or create a dog run to give your family friend the room needed to move around.

T-posts are tough metal stakes that come in six-, seven- and eight-foot lengths and are sorted into light- and heavy-duty models, the latter of which can withstand more pressure being applied to the fence from the likes of dogs and other large animals.

There are also U-posts, which are light duty options that come in sizes ranging from three to seven feet.

While they can be used for permanent fencing, T-posts and U-posts generally offer the flexibility to set up a fence on a seasonal basis or to move it if necessary. However, there is also significant cost benefit as this type of fencing is more economical than chain link and wood fences.

Fencing materials

There is a range of fencing products that can be attached to T-posts. There is lightweight garden fence, metal poultry netting or multi-use welded fencing. There is also game and livestock fencing that is galvanized to resist weather and extended wear.

Durable wire mesh fencing with a vinyl covering is more decorative than the standard galvanized products. Green, plastic fencing can also be attached to posts and is considered to be more visually appealing than galvanized steel wire.

For agricultural purposes, barbed or electric wire may also be used.

U-posts are punched and T-posts can be punched or studded, requiring clips to attach fencing materials, so you should consider which would be most appropriate for the fencing you select.

Installation considerations

Depending on use, fence posts are generally spaced six feet apart. The closer the posts are, though, the stronger the fence will be. For more permanent installations, consider using a wooden post at corners and gates. And because animals are inclined to dig, you may want to start your fencing below the surface.

Safety should be a consideration with any project done at home. Always ensure you know where underground utility lines are before installing fence posts. Also, wires and fencing can get lost in the landscape so identify whether visibility is a priority, preventing possible ATV accidents in rural areas for example.

Other uses

Because they are easy to install just about anyway, these posts do have a range of other functions besides fencing. They can be used to stake a tree or protect a tree from wildlife like beavers. You can make a trellis for climbing plants. The stakes can identify hazards and construction, protecting visitors when you’re hosting an event.

There are multi-season applications as T-posts can also be used to set up a snow or barrier fence. For larger properties in rural locations, a snow fence can effectively manage drifting snow on roadways by helping to reduce wind and redirect where snow piles up.

Before building a wood or wire (metal or plastic) fence, think about using T-posts or U-posts as part of a fencing system to create a barrier in your yard.