Garden fencing
When it comes to marking your property's boundary, or subdividing your garden up into clearly visible sections, the three main available options are fences, walls and hedges.
Whilst many people like the appearance of a natural hedge, all shrubs and trees take time to develop and establish and this in itself is an obstacle to getting the immediate boundary definition that is required. Additionally, hedges need regular trimming, pruning and upkeep and if one of the shrubs, trees or plants dies, you are left with a gap that cannot easily be filled.
Walls and hedges offer a far quicker solution, but in the case of a wall it will require an excavated foundation, the use of wet trades, and a damp proof course. If the wall is to be built on a boundary, then it may require the permission or consent of a neighbour and the mess and nuisance will also be disruptive.
Fencing – the best solution
Keeping the previously mentioned considerations in mind, a fence is usually the quickest, easiest, least troublesome and cheapest way of quickly getting a garden barrier in place.
A fence can be cheap to buy, comparatively simple to erect, and requires a minimum of ongoing maintenance. Furthermore, there are many different fence panels designs available and with the options of timber or concrete fence posts, the appearance can be varied considerably.
Fences come in a selection of heights and post caps and other decorative items can be used to add extra style to the overall look. You can even vary or alternate different panels designs to get a unique and eye catching effect.
The finish of many fence panels may also be varied by using a basic creosote (in different shades), or one of the more modern and stylish coloured preservatives, many of which come in greens, blues and various shades of brown.
A fence can be temporary or permanent and, whilst it will not have the longevity of a masonry wall, it will last more many years if treated with preservative on a systematic basis.
One of the other advantages of the fence solution is that a fence can be erected as a short to medium term boundary delineation solution whilst a natural hedge grows immediately to the side of it. Once the hedge has reached suitable maturity, the fence can be removed altogether.
Fence locations
The most common location for a fence is at a boundary, however fences can be used to great decorative and space enclosing effect in other areas of a garden. Here are some common and not so common examples.
Low level fences (e.g. 2 or 3 feet high) can be used to delineate different areas of a garden. This could be the case where a lawn and flowerbed garden benefits from being separated from a vegetable plot or a meadow area.
A play area for children can be split off separately from other parts of a garden, thereby preventing balls and toys from damaging plants or getting lost whilst adding the security of knowing exactly where the children are playing.
Fencing can be used to create storage areas for refuge collection bins (e.g. the unsightly wheelie bins found in England), or for patio furniture, garden heaters or a BBQ.
Areas intended for a specific purpose like a decking zone or patio can also be highlighted by the clever use of unobtrusive low level fencing.
Finally, fences and sections of fence panel can be used as stand alone features in a garden. By offsetting two or three fence panels in a lawn or flowerbed a very different perspective can be created and the illusion of a larger garden can be generated. Some of these effect can even be exaggerated at night by using different garden lighting features to cast shadows and create dramatic effects.