Whether you want to improve your home security or just get a bit of privacy, fencing is one of the easiest and cost-effective options. Fencing has lots of other benefits, including reducing exterior noise and creating boundaries to keep pets and children safe.
There’s plenty of fencing options to choose from and an attractive solution to suit almost any budget. In this article we review some of the options available:
Traditional Wood Panel Fences
Wood panels can come in a variety of designs and can be built at any height to fit your garden, be aware that fencing height may be restricted by your local Council, so it is worth checking the local regulations before deciding to erect a fence taller than 6ft. The usual and most popular method of erecting fencing is to attach the panels to upright fencing posts that are securely embedded into the soil. Wooden fencing can be built to order or bought as panels that simply need to be fitted together.
If you’re installing your fencing for security purposes, ideally you want something that is sturdy as well as private. There are other options, such as palisade fencing, where there are gaps between the strips of wood. These are great choices if you don’t want to be so closed off from the outside world or have trailing plants in your garden.
While it’s a favourite choice for many homeowners, the big disadvantage with wood fence panelling is that it requires more maintenance. That includes treating and staining the wood. You’ll find plenty of amazing stain colours, from traditional wood stain to pastels and bright colours.
Other Fencing Materials
If you don’t want to opt for wooden fences, there are plenty of other materials such as aluminium, steel and even vinyl. This is a product area that has improved dramatically over the last few years. Stores like B&Q now sell fabulous looking decorative panels by Blooma. While a little more expensive than other options these are certainly built to last and look great in any garden.
Trellis vs Fencing
Trellis is slightly different from traditional fencing. It’s lighter and designed to support growing climbing plants. Trellis can be fitted to existing stone walls and fences to provide more height or can be standalone and are relatively easy to maintain. The traditional English Diamond trellis is a popular choice.
Pre-Painted and Pre-Treated Fences
One way to avoid too much immediate maintenance is to buy pre-painted or pre-treated fences. There’s also a new range of steel based fencing where the colour has been baked in, producing a hardy material that is guaranteed to last a long time.
Which Climbing Plants Should You Choose?
Many people choose to combine their fencing with various climbing plants. While these can take a few years to grow and cover your fence or trellis, they look absolutely fantastic once they are established. There are several options, including:
- Clematis: Easy to grow and producing brilliant flowers in Spring and Summer, there are several hundred different varieties to choose from.
- Honeysuckle: This is a plant that generally takes care of itself and is great for attracting all sorts of bees and insects.
- Chocolate Vine: If you fancy something a little out of the ordinary, this is a quick growing plant that produces beautiful flowers.
Protecting Your Fence From High Winds
One challenge that you will face is how to protect your fence from high winds. It helps to understand the exposure where your fencing is going to be installed. If you are likely to suffer strong winds, the sturdier the fencing the better. It’s important to make sure your fence posts have a deep and solid foundation to start with but there are also several options for reinforcing an installation such as fence brackets.
Maintaining Your Fencing
A lot will depend on the material you have chosen. Wood fences will need re-staining or painting every few years depending on their location and exposure to the elements, this doesn’t need to be a derogatory thing, some people like the idea of changing the colour of their garden perimeter. It’s a good idea to give any metal or vinyl fencing a clean every few months if there are no climbing plants attached to it. Even the best-kept fencing can generate mould and mildew and a little care and attention now and again will make a big difference.
Whichever fence route you decide to take there are plenty of ways to personalise your garden perimeter. Experiment with coloured stain, climbing plants and trellises to get a look that is uniquely yours!
