Houses are generally composed of rare front yards, which are converted into gardens and open seating spaces. These open-to-sky spaces require a barrier between the outdoor relaxing space and the adjacent other properties, as well as the road nearby. These barriers can be of any material design or shape. Creating garden fencing to provide a visual barrier with a sense of security is possible with various materials such as bamboo, wood forms, metals, and many more.
According to the Bristol Connecticut regulations, there is a certain height regulation for fencing. It should be at least 3 ft in the front yard to retain the elevational look of the property, but in the rare yard, it should be higher and up to 6 feet for security and privacy purposes. The fence not only fulfills the function of providing security and privacy but also enhances the elevation and overall aesthetics of the house.
Why has Fencing Turned into a Trend Over a Safety Measure?
We know the importance of fencing the property. It is always considered while building the house as a safety measure, to provide a sense of privacy, as a barrier between heavy winds and plants in the garden, and a lot more. But with time, this architectural element has now become a piece to add aesthetics to the facade of the house, and people put in a lot of effort to make it right.
While working on the elevation and overall look of the house, it is necessary to consider the fence because it falls in the very first section of the entire entity. And to make the fence a part of the design language, its vital functions get hampered sometimes. To make the overall look of the house aesthetically sound, we generally overlook the reasons for its existence.
The shift in focus towards aesthetics brings a chance to unite these secluded members with the main structure of the house. Let’s get some creative garden fencing ideas which performs the function and yet adds value to the design and aesthetics of the house.
Garden Fencing Ideas with Some Amazing Materials
01. Introduce Bamboo to the Fencing Wall: Woven Bamboo Walls
Gardens need not be fenced with conventional metallic wire; a green material like bamboo can provide a great lightweight screen for the boundaries of the garden. There are various ideas and ways to use bamboo fencing in the garden; one of the ways is to use panels made of sleek woven bamboo strips. These will look more like a woven basket with plants and natural elements and will also add a unique feature to the garden.
02. Create a Natural Garden Fence by Growing Tall Shrubs
Let’s go sustainable and fence with edible, useful climbers and tall shrubs. Put in some edible plants like scallions, tomatoes, and peppers; Shrubs like Japanese rose, rose bush, boxwood, Chinese juniper, hydrangea, and lilac; climbers like star jasmine, Bengal clock vine, and many more to create a dense green fence and bring in some fresh edibles.
03. Blur the Boundary with the Help of Free-Standing Bamboo Partitions
Nowadays, bamboo is among the most popular materials for landscaping, both as an Interior decorative material and as a structural material in some buildings. Creating a retaining member in front of a huge bunch of small plants can add a natural texture and wooden colour to the combination. Or putting up tall bamboo partitions can add a cafe vibe to your outdoor seating.
04. A Short, Recycled Wooden Fence May be a Cheaper Option
If you are looking to invest a little in fencing, try some recycling techniques. Using upcycled wood as a material with creative ideas like French-style fencing or simple vertical pieces carved in a pointed style can be an easy and economical way to complete the task.
Reclaim the old wooden doors and furniture pieces and cut them according to the design idea, you are all set to create simple and quick fencing within the garden.
05. Gabion Wall: An Unparalleled and Interactive Idea for Fencing
Gabion walls were used as design solutions for retaining heavy landslides and controlling heavy floods along the river banks. These are big pockets of wire filled with easily available natural stones. A gabion wall made of natural coloured stone can fulfil the function of creating a strong barrier and also enhance the overall aesthetic of the elevation if planned accordingly with the used materials.
06. Trellis with Climbers on it: An Organic Solution
Trellis is an architectural feature that is structurally strong and can be easily installed. These are usually made of interwoven wood, bamboo, or even metal. These are best used as fences because of their easy installation process, attractive framework, and possibilities of materials. Adding climbers to them can transform the entire design idea of the garden.
07. Spaced Wooden Planks Will Add a Country Vibe
Wood is always a good material to keep in the garden with green and colourful textured plants. Put wooden planks in their natural colour or any light neutral colour at a uniform distance and let the vibe come into the garden and fill it with country style.
08. Trellis with Planters
Trellis can also be used as a support for the planters and can create a temporary green wall with a variety of plants on it. The design and framework of the trellis make it structurally sound enough to hold heavy planters and create a strong fence at the same time.
Start with choosing the style of planters you wish to hang. Try to choose lighter materials such as PVC or recyclable plastic and plants that require less water and soil to sustain, such as aloe vera, sage, lavender, snake plants, etc. Put the plant family together with some water and hang them on the stylish trellis in the garden.
09. Wire Mesh Covered with Greenery
The simplest, fastest and the most cost-effective way to create a boundary around your property is to install a wire mesh fence with supporting posts. Fill these small scoops within the wire with green trails. Let the climbers fill the mesh and create a green visual barrier. Wire garden fencing will create a physical barrier and provide a sense of security while letting the wind flow untouched. You can add creeper plants like Bougainvillaea, Morning Glory, Philodendron, Curtain creepers and many more to enhance these woven wires.
10. Metal Garden Fencing
Create a fence with abandoned metal and fulfill the requirements of creating a strong barrier between the surroundings and the inner living space. You can go for solid metallic partitions or even choose to cut them and carve out jaali patterns in them.
11. Simply a Hedge
Short, green walls or hedges are the best way to create privacy and have greenery at the same time. Unlike any solution that minimises the green space in the garden, this will multiply the scope of plants within the garden.
Some species recommended for hedges are: Ficus, Carolina, Privet, Buxus sempervirens (box), purple beech, Vilayti Mehndi, Tridhara, and many more.
12. Garden Railing Fence
Most Indian houses had these stone or concrete railings kept at landings, terraces, or even at the boundary walls for ornamentation. Upcycle this beautiful piece of art and use it as a fence to create a barrier for the small animals. It adds a classic and retro look to the front yard of the house.
13. Translucent Panels with Vertical Supports
Translucent garden fencing panels are a unique idea to bring in privacy while also fencing the garden. While designing the outdoors, we focus more on the type of plant’s pathways and water features, but fencing like translucent sheets with backlit features can enhance it way more.
This idea of using translucent sheets added to the wooden or metallic frames can add a distinct layer of texture and interest to the garden. You can also keep them backlit to add an illuminating feature at night.
14. Stone Garden Fencing
A stone wall as a fence may seem outdated and heavy, but these short stone walls create a unique texture and also separate different zones in the garden. These are the best solutions when it’s more a matter of safety than cost or weight. Stone fences are comparatively more expansive than those made of any other material.
15. Use Wire Mesh for Almost Invisible Fencing
If you are getting confused between the various materials available for fencing and want a boundary with no visual barrier, go for the best wood rail and post with a sleek mesh of wire. While installing these vertical posts, they should support these wires. Tuck these posts into the ground at least a foot down. These wired fences are the most convenient and easiest to install. They are economical and easy to maintain as well.
16. The Vertical Garden as a Fence for a Complete Visual Barrier
If your garden is completely an outdoor living space, and you need to seclude it to have some relaxation time, go for some vertical gardening. Tall tree trailers with climber’s mesh and hung planters can be one of the ideas to bring in vertical green walls in the garden.
Some plants that can create this barrier are Climbing roses, cherry laurel, arborvitae, flame vine, Herniaria glabra, etc.
17. Rustic Metal Look Wooden Strips
Avoid wood with knots and rings; these are sometimes more distracting if the garden is small, and it may look heavy. Go for some minimal, light wooden strips and transform the garden with long, solid-coloured, tall members. Don’t forget to add some platters near it; the natural green texture of plants will enhance the overall look of the house.
18. Artistic Panels
Bring out the artist inside you and splash some interesting artistic features into your garden. You can choose the panels and parts of your fence as the canvas and can fill them with colours you like to cherish every day with natural light and plants all around.
You can also add sculptures, paintings and artefacts in the rear yard and on the fence to give it a holistic look. Try to keep stone as a material for sculptures and use oil-based colours for the paintings to protect them from changing weather conditions.
19. Brick with Railing
Brick is a widely used material for installing fences. Vertical posts with interesting moulding and shorter brick walls with railing are the most common and best ways to put barriers for security and privacy at the same time. Mixing metal with bricks and allowing creepers to spread on them can make the fence more interesting and lively.
20. Recycled Barrier with Bottles
An idea is to reuse the used bottles and put them in the garden to create a visual barrier. Try to stack these bottles with support and adhesive to keep them together. These bottles can also be used as planters and can create a separation between grass and a row of plants in the garden.
5 Tips to Make and Maintain Your Garden Fencing
- Decide if you want to keep your fencing in strong building materials like concrete and brick, or if you want the supports to be in any other material, like metal. Garden fence materials like concrete require civil work and comparatively more time than installing any other material.
- Try to keep the fencing thick (about 150mm) if making it a visual barrier is a priority. Materials like wood, brick, and bamboo can be options to make it thick, and if the requirement is to keep it light and transparent, go for wire mesh with supportive members.
- Try to dig the pits at least 2-3 feet deep for the posts that support the parts of the fence. To keep the fence sturdy, it is essential to take it underground for at least a foot.
- Leave some space for the living creatures to move in and out of the garden. Holes and voids in the design of the fence allow small creatures and insects to keep the garden ecologically balanced.
- It is advisable to keep the height of the garden fence at least 3 feet to fulfil the function of providing privacy and security.
Take Away
Garden fencing is among the must-do things in the outdoor space; it not only gives a defined boundary to the property and acts as a privacy-creating feature but also adds a tone to the house. Whether you like the classic and rustic look or are inclined towards modern, the vast range of creative garden fencing ideas, designs, and materials will surely give you the best of your choices.
There is no limit to exploring the creative boundaries while installing a fence, starting from a simple brick wall with mouldings on it to simply putting some vertical metallic posts with wires. The range gives you tremendous ideas.
FAQs
01. What are the top 5 easy ways of garden fencing?
The five easy and quick ways of putting up a fence are: a trellis with climbers, a series of bamboo sticks, wire fencing, planks of recycled wood, and hedges.
02. What is the best type of fencing for a home?
Hedges are the best for fencing the front yard of the house, but for safety purposes, chain mesh coated with PVC is the most commonly adopted solution in homes.
03. What should be the height of a fence?
The ideal height of the fence is 3 feet for the front yard and 6 to 8 feet for the backyard. In front, the height may hinder the elevation of the house, but in the backyard, it is necessary to have privacy and security.
04. Are all garden fencing materials good?
There is no end to the materials you can choose while putting a fence in your yard. But it is always a good idea to go for materials that perform well on the exteriors and are weatherproof.
05. What does a fence do to a house?
Fencing has various functions such as providing security, and privacy from adjacent properties or nearby roads and at the same time, it also adds aesthetic value to the property. Choose the best material and style for your garden.
Image Courtesy: Image 14
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.
