The reason for burying the wire 2-3 inches is so that the fence works properly. This is very important for the cheaper systems. I have a professional system that was installed at my house. The company buried it at about 4 in. I personally have a small pull behind core aerator and I go right over mine. I know some of the more heavy-duty aerators penetrate much more into the ground.

 

I suppose I could wear the collar and when it starts to buzz I could turn. LOL

 

Actually, most collars do set of an audible alarm first. You can set the electric field at several different places. I think mine is set at 4 feet. So that means that the collar will beep 4 feet on both sides of the line. The best way to mark where it is just hold the collar in your hand ?not touching the metal? LOL and mark with a flag. I usually find myself cutting them in the flowerbeds with the edger. You probably already know that finding where you hit the wire can really be fun.

 

well I have butchered my own elec fence more thanonce. Invisible Fence (not the junk they sell at the local wal mart) installed mine...rather expesnive at $1000. I had them come out and "precisely" mark the line....NOT!!! still cut it about 5 times while aerating....so now since the dog is trained its turned off and in many pieces I'm sure.....when I do aerations I have check off blocks on the proposal that ask about these or other underground objects....customer checks off and signs.....I rarely turn down work...but...if they tell me they have an elec fence, even if its marked, I respectfully decline to do the work....its too easy to cut them and too difficult to have them precisely marked...its a customer headache just waiting to happen...just my opinion

 

I just had an image in my mind of an immigrant worker wearing a collar while aerating!!! Reckon they'd do a hatdance when they get close? Seriously though, those systems are getting more popular and not just in the upscale areas either. If I had to locate the wires, I'd charge for it and also put a disclaimer on the CONTRACT. Also, if they have the wires you know there's gonna be POOP in the yard! YIKES! I just had another image of a Ryan IV flattening out a huge poop pile and then flinging it up at the operator!

 

Invisible Fence installer here only puts wire 1"-2" underground. It's a shame a contractor charges for a good job and does a poor one. It's also a shame people can't just learn to train their dogs.

But invisible fencing can be a negative for a dog. Once saw a dog that wanted to chase something so bad, it just put up with the shock and went after the target. But when it tried to get back home, it didn't want to get shocked. Poor dog was wandering for half an hour trying to get back into yard. I finally advised my client, and she took dog in until owners returned home. ROTFLMAO about effectiveness of the fence!!

And yeah, Mark, I've killed my share of them, too. Intaller once gave me an AM radio freq to use to plot the lines, but that didn't work very well. I just tell clients we have to stay 5-8 ft away from approx location, and put up with less than perfect lawn there. Or they can have a nice lawn, and find a better fence installer.

 

1grnlwn, where can a guy get the line tracing equipment at? thanks

 

What does it take to repiar this line? Can it just be spliced and connected with a shrink-wrap connector? I have never seen one of these unit's wire before, so I am just curious. Thanks for any info.

 

I have a long time, very good customer, and last year she put the invisible fence in and had me aerate it. Well I poked the wire in a lot of spots. There werew flags out and I didn't do along areas where flags were. Later she told me that my machine cut the wires, but it was ok because hubby tried to save some bucks and put the flags where he thought the wires were.
This year, she informed me that they paid to have it marked, so have a blast, but stay away from areas where the flags were.
Guess what I poked the line in several spots. They caled the fence company and he said it was marked, and the grass guy went into the area where the wires were. I was going to fix the fence wires, but looked at the areas real good. Went and got customer and we went over all the areas where the flags were, to my advantage they were still there, and there were no aeration holes any where near the flags. The fence guy said that I was correct and he had to fix the wires.

 

Runner, that's basically all they do. The bear is finding all the breaks in the line. And then 5 months later, the line gives out again from corrosion in spots where you just skinned it, but didn't cut all the way through.

If anyone gets a hint client is thinking of an invisible dog fence, have them make sure the installer is going to put it in at least 4" deep. And the installer is responsible for damages less deep than that.

But then I have killed lots of cable TV and telephone lines, too. The invisible fence installers don't have a copyright on laziness. Hope I never run into a really lazy electric or gas installer.

 

Originally posted by GroundKprs
But then I have killed lots of cable TV and telephone lines, too. The invisible fence installers don't have a copyright on laziness. Hope I never run into a really lazy electric or gas installer.

The cable companies here never bury the wires. I have two customers that have had the wires above ground for over a year. I have cut it once and both the customer and I thought they would bury it, but no luck. In a subdivision common area, there are cables and they are cut, have been for 6-8 months and never fixed. One day when I was cutting I noticed them cut and laying on the part I cut. I rolled it up and threw it in the weeds, it is still there to this day.

 

My recommendation is do not do a house with buried wires. What if their dog runs away and bites someone and you are the blame. If they tell you about it dont even consider doing an aeration job and that yard. That would be my response. Think smart. Avoid problems to make your lawn care experience a pleasant one.




Bedros

 

Bedros(?) Makes an excellent point. I wonder if we would be held liable for that? Surely an aggressive dog would be more secure than that but, anything can happen I guess. It's certainly something to consider.

 

I am a homeowner that also has an invisible fence. It was professionally installed but only an inch or two deep. Before I had this installed I lost a dog due to drowning when she broke through the ice one winter while walking on the lake. We were devastated. My wife witnessed the accident. We now have two Labs and did not want a repeat performance, thus the fence. Works great. Our dogs have learned that they only can go swimming when we are with them and take the collars off.
Anyway, what I am getting at, have any of you had any experience with liquid soil conditioners that are intended to relieve soil compaction and treat the soil? Some examples are products such as Turf2Max, ROOTS123 and a product offered by KPWhite and company (soil conditioner). Are these an effective alternative to traditional aeration or would I just be throwing my money away? Any imput would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks....Dennis

 

When giving a quote for aerating, I ALWAYS ask about irrigation, dog fence etc... If they say yes to any of those things, then I tell them I will leave marker flags (for the homeowner to mark the area) for me to avoid those area's.

I did a fall clean up Sunday at a good customers house. I was surprised to see all those white flags marking the invisible dog fence. I immediately thought "Well I wont be aerating her lawn again". This year she installed irrigation, now doggie fence......I think this is getting to be too much to avoid.

I did an aeration for a friend, he has the doggie fence. I asked him to mark it off, and he did. I stayed away from it, and have not heard anything about it not working.

The point here is, if you ask THEM to mark it then you cant be responsible. If they do not want to mark the lines, then I say move on. The hassle will not be worth any money you get no matter how much.

 

I am a homeowner that also has an invisible fence. It was professionally installed but only an inch or two deep. Before I had this installed I lost a dog due to drowning when she broke through the ice one winter while walking on the lake. We were devastated. My wife witnessed the accident. We now have two Labs and did not want a repeat performance, thus the fence. Works great. Our dogs have learned that they only can go swimming when we are with them and take the collars off.
Anyway, what I am getting at, have any of you had any experience with liquid soil conditioners that are intended to relieve soil compaction and treat the soil? Some examples are products such as Turf2Max, ROOTS123 and a product offered by KPWhite and company (soil conditioner). Are these an effective alternative to traditional aeration or would I just be throwing my money away? Any imput would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks....Dennis

Hey, Just saw your post when looking up info on liquid aerators. I have limited experience but I like the research I have seen on the website the ease of application, the client cost, the lack of damage, etc. my plan in my grounds maintenance business is to never use mechanical aerators henceforth unless the client demands it. The Haymaker

 

I suppose I could wear the collar and when it starts to buzz I could turn. LOL

there ya go!

 

Tie the dog to the aerator. Charge the customer for exercising the dog. Double chang ching$$$$