Living fence ideas for high desert southwest

Help me decide on fencing to keep elk out! Location is high desert mountains of NM. Zone 7a-7b, 7580 ft elevation. Before I can start gardening in any form, we need fencing strong enough for the elk.

I've always been drawn to the idea of living fences and hedges that provide food and shelter for wildlife and privacy. However, I'm unsure if that would work with our massive elk herds as they love to forage at night and also use our trees to rub their antlers, so even growing a tree requires a cage around it to keep safe until it's out of antler reach.

Currently exploring options and debating between investing in 8'-10' fixed knot fencing vs. a living fence or hedge. Can't do willow or anything that needs regular watering since we get water but mainly as downpours.

I've searched the forums and seen posts with ideas for trees and plants for living fences, but none that use plants of the high desert southwest.

What grows well here:

Native Shrubs
-New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana)
-Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa)
-Wild Rose (Rosa sp.)
-Currants (Ribes sp.)
-Mountain Spray (Holodiscus dumosus)
-New Mexico Elderberry (Sambucus neomexicana)

Native Trees
-White Fir (Abies concolor)
-Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
-Southwestern White Pine (Pinus strobiformis)
-Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
-Bigtooth Maple (Acer grandidentatum)
-Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum)
-Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii)

Any input is appreciated, especially if you live in a similar climate/elevation!

Rosemary does well for me though it is only abt 3 feet tall.

Intermix with native shrubs and tree might work if fence in until established.

I only have experience with deer fencing.

Unfortunately it's too cold for rosemary to survive winters. Otherwise I'd love a rosemary hedge!

Yes, deer fencing is most likely what I'll have to do to for the elk. They are excellent jumpers!

Serena,

I would recommend to put a metal/wooden fence first and then start experimenting with live one.

I have experimented with native plants that supposedly would grow effortlessly, just to find later that they have no chance surviving in the open area without pioneering oaks. In high desert, or generally arid climates, everything grows very slowly, because favorable growing conditions are only a fraction of so called "growing season".
Sometimes not native species will do better than locals.
Establishing a functional fence may take the same amount (or more) of time as creating a food forest.

If you have a man-made fence you will be able to focus on producing food, which even with good working fence can already be frustrating enough.

Hi Serena,

Any chance you could get Osage working in that mix?  They are pretty robust, hearty plants that make an amazing, dense screen.  They also produce some amazing firewood.



Eric

Another option is to start with a dead hedge which could protect the new hedge and gradually feed it. Andrew describes what he did  here. His dead hedge was effective to contain goats. I don't know how high/wide elk can jump, but it might be worth a go if you have brash to dispose of.

I’m open to any suggestions for trees and shrubs to try. Osage is new to me but I’ll look it up. Firewood is definitely a plus.

In a high-desert Zone 7a site with heavy elk pressure, most folks find that a sturdy 8–10 ft fixed-knot fence is the only reliable first barrier, and you can then plant tough natives like New Mexico locust and Gambel oak inside it to gradually create a living windbreak and wildlife-friendly hedge.

Serena Hartwell wrote:Unfortunately it's too cold for rosemary to survive winters. Otherwise I'd love a rosemary hedge!

Yes, deer fencing is most likely what I'll have to do to for the elk. They are excellent jumpers!

How cold does it get in southeastern NM?  I have seen it get to 7 degrees and the rosemary has never seen any damage???

I have also read that there are cold hardy varieties of rosemary.  I thought I was buying this cute kitchen herb so I never imagined how big it got.

Hey, I just found this: