The poet Robert Frost said "good fences make good neighbors," but unfortunately he didn't give us any instructions on how to actually build a good one. It can be a daunting project.
Beyond property lines, there are several considerations: height, level of screening desired, and material—to name a few. Then, there is the cost and time involved. Custom fencing is a great option if you have lots of both. If you are a budding carpenter, a fence can be a great DIY project. For many of us who land somewhere in the middle, pre-made fencing can be a great solution.
There are many varieties of pre-made fencing that appeal to different needs and tastes. Most come in panels or rolls, ready to be mounted to posts or pre-existing fencing structures (not included). You can hire a contractor to help with installation or do it yourself. Here are 10 options to consider.
Rolled Fencing
Above: An 8-foot-long panel of 6-foot-high Bamboo Friendly Fence has high quality Tonkin bamboo woven with copper clad wire can be attached to wooden rails, with or without a wood frame; $132.95 from Bamboo Fencer.
Above: An affordable option is Reed Fencing. Crafted from reeds woven together with vinyl-coated wire, it can be attached to an existing fence or to posts of your own. The reeds weather to silvery gray; $89.95 for a set of two 78-inch high, 13-foot long sections (for a total of 26 feet) at Gardeners.
Above: For a more natural look, a Bamboo Twig Fence made from stiff bundles of bamboo branches. Available in 8-foot-long lengths and heights that range from 2 to 6 feet at prices from $24.52 to $53.22 from Master Garden Products.
Above: A 10-foot-long panel Willow Balcony Screen, available in two heights (approximately 3 feet tall and approximately 5 feet tall), is from 34€ to 62€ per panel, depending on height, at Manufactum.
Above: Gardman Willow Privacy Panel Fencing is made with long-lasting willow wood reinforced with steel wire. It can be attached to an existing fence or used as a stand alone fence; $40.73 for the 39-inch-tall, 13-foot roll at Home Depot.
Woven Panel Fencing
Above: Woven from coppiced hazel, a 6-foot fencing panel of Hazel Hurdles is £59.99 from Primrose.
Above: A woven willow fence at Walnuts Farm, about an hour's drive from London.
A 6-foot-high Willow Woven Hurdle Fence Panel is available in five widths at prices from $34.18 to $84.62 depending on size from Master Garden Products.
Wood Panel Fencing
(N.B.: Designing a garden? See "10 Easy Pieces: Pathway Lighting."
Above: Back to Basics. The White Cedar Dog-Ear Fence Panel measures six-by-eight feet; $48.97 each at Home Depot.
Above: There is something about traditional white cedar picket fencing. The New England Wide Picket Fence shown with a beveled post comes in a choice of four heights from 30 inches to 48 inches and in a choice of four-, six-, or eight-foot sections; from $95 to $155 per section depending on size at the New England Cedar Fence Company. Samples are available.
Above: An 8-foot length of Redwood Lattice Top Wood Fence Panel is 6 feet high; $90 from Lowe's.
Designing a fence? See more:
- Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences
- 10 Favorites: Old-Fashioned Picket Fences
- Trend Alert: Woven Willow Fences
N.B.: This is an update of a post published September 26, 2012.
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