How to Choose Fencing for your Garden

The first thing to remember is the function of the fence, your garden fence marks, secures and protects your property.

To establish which sort of fence is right for you start by asking yourself a few basic questions

• What’s the main purpose of the fence? • Does it need to provide privacy? • Does it need to provide shelter and a windbreak for your plants? • Does it need to stop your pet from straying? • Does it provide a backdrop for your floral displays - does it need to be aesthetically pleasing? • Are you willing/able to do maintenance on your fence? • and the all important question - what’s your budget?

Also consider the size of your garden when choosing a fence. In a smaller garden for example, a common technique employed by experienced garden landscapers or fencing contractors to make smaller gardens appear more spacious is to use horizontal lines in their design concepts, elongating the space to make it appear longer.

In a larger garden, fencing can be used to define different areas. Decorative fence panels can work beautifully as a backdrop for climbing plants or to separate a patio, or to screen bins and storage areas.

LARCHLAP Larch-lap panel fencing is a common type of budget fencing made of horizontal slats. Like closeboard fencing, it can be used with either timber or concrete posts and gravel boards Although offering good value, larch-lap panel fencing is not as robust as closeboard fencing, it’s more prone to damage in high winds.

Pros • Suitable for most gardens • Cheaper than closeboard fencing • Provides privacy • Deters intruders • Ideal for homes with pets

Cons • Not as robust or long-lasting as close board fencing • Maintenance required to prolong the life of the timber • Functional, however it’s less attractive than other styles are strong and solid, constructed with overlapping vertical feather-edge wooden boards. This type of fencing is commonly used in back gardens – it’s a mid range budget option, neat and attractive, offering good privacy and providing some shelter from wind and frost to delicate shrubs.

Closeboard fencing is typically 6ft (1.8m) tall, but it’s available in various heights. Bear in mind, however, that local authorities often have height restrictions on boundary fencing.

Pros • Ideal for most gardens • Robust and long-lasting • Its height provides some security • Provides privacy • Deters intruders • Good for pet-owners • Offers shade and shelter for tender plants and shrubs

Cons • Can be expensive for a large garden • Its closed-up boards can be buffeted by strong winds, though it’s stronger than a

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larch lap fence panel • Annual maintenance is required

PICKET or PALISADE If you’re going for a look that’s traditional and decorative, you may consider timber palisade fencing, more commonly known as picket fencing. Picket fences are mostly seen in front gardens, where they give a home traditional kerb appeal, and if you’re a sociable type that likes to chat over the fence with neighbours, a picket fence in the rear garden would look lovely too.

Although wood is the conventional material, picket fencing can also be made from PVC for a lower maintenance option. There are a few disadvantages to using PVC however: temperature change can make it brittle, prone to mould and it can be more expensive than wood.

This style of fencing is traditionally quite low. With its spacing between the timbers, it’s less prone to wind damage and it doesn’t offer much protection to tender plants either.

Pros • A good option for front gardens • Ideal to protect ponds or swimming pools • Provides a good boundary marker • Traditional, attractive looks • Lets light through / doesn’t block your view • Less prone to wind damage

Cons • Doesn’t provide privacy • Doesn’t provide much security • Would not contain some dogs • Some maintenance required to protect timber • Won’t provide much protection for plants

SLATTED FENCE PANELS Slatted fence panels give a sleek, more contemporary look to your outside space, perfect if privacy is not an issue. They can make great dividers for different sections of your garden. The effect of sunlight slanting through the gaps is particularly attractive as well.

Pros • Available in a range of heights and styles • Sleek, modern appearance • Horizontal slats can make your garden appear longer • Gaps between slats allow wind through, reducing resistance and improving longevity

Cons • Don’t offer complete privacy on a boundary • Can let weeds grow through

HIT & MISS FENCING There’s a distinctive and particularly attractive pattern to hit and miss fence panels, created by smooth-planed horizontal boards that are alternately fixed to the front and back of the panel. This is a medium-range budget type of fencing that can look good in both traditional and contemporary gardens.

Pros • An attractive fence type that looks good on both sides • Offers good security and privacy • Gaps between the boards allow wind to Cons • They can be higher maintenance, it’s tricky to reach boards on the inside of the panel for painting • Gaps between boards can be a route for persistent weeds on the other side • At the top end of the price range

Fence Posts If you’ve got some idea now which type of fence panel would suit your garden, there’s one more major consideration - which type of fence post is best?

There are three main options,timber,concrete or galvanised steel

Timber posts can be a cheaper option if you’re on a tight budget, but they can rot if not well maintained and may eventually start to lean or even be blown over in heavy winds.

By contrast, concrete posts are more likely to last in the long term, especially against strong gusts of wind, they need less maintenance than wooden posts

Concrete posts incur a higher up-front cost than timber posts, but their longevity makes them a better investment. You’ll still need to change the fence panels from time to time, but concrete posts won’t need to be replaced as often.

Galvanised steel posts are lighter and stronger than concrete, and twice as quick to install. They don’t warp, crack or rot, and they can withstand winds up to 110mph. They’re compatible with almost any type of fence.

Painting If you choose a timber fence it will usually come in a natural wood colour. If you don’t like this look, you can paint the fence a different colour. Even if you like the natural colour of the timber, it’s a good idea to safeguard your fence against harsh weather with a protective treatment for wood.

If you’ve chosen PVC as a material keep in mind that it can’t usually be painted so you are committed to the colour as you purchased it.

When it comes to choosing fencing, your outside space is an extension of your home, and so it is important to ensure it reflects your style and taste, as well as working for you and your garden on a practical level. To enjoy your garden or entertain friends without having to see unsightly clutter, as well providing as a safe, secure and robust perimeter, you can utilise fencing as a key element of your outdoor space. n