Choosing the Right Garden Fencing for Your Yard
Garden fencing comes in all shapes and sizes. The type that is right for you will depend on a variety of factors, including your own personal tastes. Here are a few of the different types to help you make your decision.
Picket Fences — These are wooden fences that provide a classic, historic design around your home. The typical picket fence is painted white and made up of “pickets” that are evenly spaced (anywhere from an inch to several inches). The standard style uses a single piece of straight wood for each picket, all the same size. Other styles include different sized and shaped pickets that can create a unique design.
The Plymouth style is a perfect example of a picket fence using different sized pickets that appear to rise and fall, creating a wave-like structure.
Trellis — If you would like a fence that provides an open feel, then the trellis is a good choice. Trellises criss-cross, often creating square or diamond shapes that can be seen through. But if you prefer your privacy, simply choose a design that places the trellises close together to block from any prying eyes.
An open trellis is also common for wrapping around a garden. This allows for both easy viewing of the garden, no matter how high you make the fence, as well as allowing plenty of air and moisture to move through.
Solid Board — For total security and privacy, solid boards placed tightly against each other are a perfect solution. This is a common solution around a backyard in order to prevent nosy neighbors from seeing what is going on, or to help reduce noise for your backyard get-togethers. If the saying “good fences make good neighbors” is true, then a solid board privacy fence may make the best neighbors of all.
A common design is to use a combination of solid boards up to six feet high or more, then top it off with an open lattice to strike a balance between seclusion and openness. When it comes to protecting a garden, short solid boards are typically used to allow people to see the garden, but keep out small animals that might be tempted to eat or dig up your plants.
Garden Arbor — For very large gardens, a garden arbor provides something of a home just for the garden. The entrance is commonly an open arch to welcome visitors while the fencing defines the borders. Combine them together for a tunnel to guide visitors through.
Whatever your need for garden fencing, an ability to customize the many different styles makes for an infinite number of possibilities, allowing you to create your own unique look.
For the best in garden fencing, visit Brattle Works (http://www.brattleworks.com) who has been handcrafting quality fences and planter boxes for over two decades. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
