The ever-popular Picket Fence – Photo Courtesy: Lucas McDaniel
As the old saying goes, ‘good fences make good neighbours’ and there is certainly some truth in it. If neither person trespasses on the other person’s land (i.e. keeps their nose out of their business) then all should remain plain sailing!
Fencing in your garden is something to be taken seriously and not just to keep your neighbour’s nose out! It’s great for added security and you can use fences creatively too – growing peas or flowers up them can look really effective.
When considering fencing for your property, check all the available options – and there is a lot to choose from these days:
A Wooden Fence
This can either be in wooden panels so that it’s solid, or in planks or branches, so that it can be looked through. The important thing to remember is that wood is perishable, so it needs to be treated with a really good quality sealant in order to stand the test of time. Wooden fences look great and will be in keeping with the rest of your garden. Choose wood with a tight grain and pick a wood stain colour that you like. You’ll need to look after it – it will probably need re-sealing and re-staining every couple of years to stay at its best.
An Iron Fence
A Wrought Iron Fence
Iron fencing is strong, durable and secure. Wrought iron is also very attractive, so you can combine strength with beauty really easily. Wrought iron doesn’t come cheap though! If you can afford this option, then you have a lot of gorgeous fences to choose from – with the added bonus that it is bound to increase the value of your property – it’s a huge appeal to new buyers.
An Electric Fence
Certainly not the most beautiful fencing option, electric fencing still has its bonuses. If you are looking to protect your home from animals, an electric fence will certainly keep them out. People with a badger or fox problem often use electric fences to deter pests. And it can help keep animals in too – if you keep your dog in the garden, or perhaps chickens, it can stop them from escaping.
Another Option…
Don’t discount the idea of building a low-level brick wall to establish your boundaries. Use beautiful old bricks to make it look really effective. You don’t have to build it too high – but a brick wall is great for marking out a garden. Pop pot plants on top to finish it off beautifully.
When you are having your new fence installed, don’t forget to consider what type of gate you want. It very much depends on how secure you want it to be. Gates can be super-secure these days but they don’t always look that beautiful. If you are just looking for average security, then you’ll find something that fits in with your fencing and still looks great.
Majestic gates of the White-Meyer House (1912, John Russell Pope) at 1624 Crescent Place NW, in Washington, DC. Originally built for diplomat Henry White, it was later owned by Eugene Meyer. His daughter, Katherine Graham of Washington Post fame, grew up here. Photo & Info Courtesy: Mr T in DC
Every garden can benefit from a little fencing. We all need to know where our boundaries are, and we also need to feel safe and secure. Fences provide this reassurance while adding beauty and style to our gardens.
Today’s guest author, Barney Pitt, is a project manager at Feature Fencing, a fencing service provider based in Australia. He is an ardent blogger and enjoys sharing his views on various topics in his articles.
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