Fences

By Shauna Dobbie

Every fence tells a story. Whether or not that story is one you want to tell depends on your design. You may inherit a fence when you move into a fence. Do you want absolute privacy from prying eyes, or no privacy or something in between? Do you want to look rustic or grand? Do you want to make a statement home or you may choose one for cost more than beauty; whatever reason exists behind the design of your fence, there are ways to make it say what you want about your property.

There are four purposes for a fence: to keep things in, to keep them out, to delineate a space, and for other aesthetic reasons.

There are many styles to consider when choosing a or fit in with your neighbours? Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll have to review your responses through the lens of practicality: how much it will cost. This could be the deciding factor between whether you get a wooden fence or a stone wall. If your dreams and your pocketbook have little in common, don’t despair; you can always plant along the fence line to make it look fantastic.

Solid white fence offers ultimate privacy and a nice backdrop for the flowers in the garden.

Wide boards, painted windows and stained glass for a homemade look.

This one is made a little special by alternating tall fat boards by shorter and thinner boards.

The lattice at the top of this fence is a half see-through division between the solid wood below and the absence of it above.

The gardener wanted a different look for this area so she covered the wooden fence with a bamboo screen.

The scalloped top offers panache to this white picket fence.

Chain link brought up a notch by wooden structural borders. The chain link does the job of letting sun in while keeping animals out.

This variation of the typical suburban fence, with boards staggered on both sides, is often known as the good neighbour fence.

Bamboo or twig fences are a temporary measure to keep people from going beyond an area.

Page wire screens a split rail fence to keep out smaller animals like chickens and rabbits.

Chain link as an animal barrier almost disappears, especially when you grow plants in front of it.

A split rail fence gives definition in this garden.

These gardeners had a lot of old stone from a barn to deal with, so they built a wall.

These gardeners had a lot of old stone from a barn to deal with, so they built a wall. This black aluminum fence gives a modern look of iron.

Wrought iron or aluminum in the front, white rails and doors and lattice in the back.

This black aluminum fence gives a modern look of iron.

Green chain link really blends in with all the greenery behind it.

A looped wire fence will keep shorter critters out of the potager.

Here’s a gate made of wheels, painted black to match.