I cognise fencing is not ordinarily considered a “ sexy ” topic for gardener and homesteaders . Often , we just consider them a necessary evil to keep pest like deer and dogs from ruining our beloved plant . However , fences do n’t have to be purely passing .
A well - station , thoughtfully planned ornamental fence can enhance the aesthetic experience of your homestead . They can help you personalize and customize your outdoor space by create inviting garden rooms or enchanting livestock areas .
In the same way that a feature of speech bulwark in your living room can draw you into outer space , cosmetic fences can dramatically alter your interactions with the landscape painting . You just need to think beyond the basic mechanics of a fence and imagine it ’s decorative potentiality .
2 Basic Types of Decorative Fences
Type 1: Primarily Decorative Fences
The first type of fencing is in the first place decorative . It might do some clean - obligation purpose such as to mark a boundary or trellis a faint - weight yearly flowering vine . However , it ’s not live to keep out pest , keep in livestock , or protect plants .
Think of a 3 - invertebrate foot - grandiloquent schism rails fence running along a driveway or marking the edge of where one person ’s property ends and the next begins . Or imagine a low , rickety lookout fence with rustic magical spell .
distinctly , fence like that are not going to quit deer from use up your plants or keep a cavalry from stepping over them to get to greener pastures . Those sort of fencing are meant as cosmetic boundaries .
They produce a sense of enclosure . They can also draw your oculus onward or inwards to make spaces feel more expansive or specify in sizing depending on how they are used .
You may make a few of these mostly decorative fence on your homestead . Even so , more likely than not , your fence will fall into the next class .
Type 2: Functional and Decorative
The 2d type is both functional and ornamental . These variety of fence can do heavy - obligation body of work to protect your land or farm animal , such as check your Capricorn the Goat orkeep out deer . Yet , they also bring in decorative elements to make them so much more pleasing than ordinary functional fence .
My preferred example of this kind of fence is the classic wattle - fence in potager garden . These “ wall ” are made with sturdy posts that keep the fencing from budging even under pressure from a 150 - Egyptian pound doe ( caprine animal or deer ) . Yet , their signature snake weave adds texture and beauty to that protect space .
Planning Considerations
Regardless of whether your fence is primarily cosmetic , or functional and ornamental , all the same rules of fence building still apply .
1. Logistical Considerations
For example , you ’ll have to avoid instal fence over underground utility line or property boundaries destine as easements . Complying with all city or HOA ordinances is also crucial .
Additionally , secure fence are good and suitable for the areas where you are set up them . You ’d never put bristled telegram where kid play , right ? Likewise , you also do n’t want to put up a ornamental fencing that might be knocked over in the wind near a high dealings walkway .
Any tall , free - standing structure you put in in your landscape painting necessitate to be unafraid enough to defy your typical environmental conditions . So , do n’t rent your aesthetic paragon override on - the - ground realities .
Plan to make the fencing safe and secure first . Then think about how to make it beautiful .
2. Microclimate Creation
For gardeners , you also need to think very cautiously about how your fencing facility might touch microclimates .
3. Solid Fence Panels
Whenever you install a anatomical structure of any size above ground , it will likely have some influence on your environmental condition . For model , a satisfying fence panel can stymie wind to protect plants or create a wind burrow depending on where you raise it .
It will also chuck shade . That can be a benefit if you deposit your fence for good afternoon shade to widen your lettuce protective cover further into summertime or grow refinement - be intimate hydrangeas . However , if you put your tomatoes on the tint side of the fence , you ’ll get lovely light-green foliage but far few tomatoes .
4. Airflow
The idea of microclimates tends to relate mostly to rut , cold , wind , sun , and shade . However , fences also regulate other ingredient in a garden or livestock outer space . Airflow is a big one .
A solid instrument panel fence around a pocket-size garden in a humid climate can increase peril for fungous pathogen contagion . This is because airflow inside the fenced area is reduced and the ground ca n’t dry at the control surface . Intermittent lookout fence or wire fencing are better for air circulating in humid regions .
In a dry clime , though , that substantial instrument panel case fencing material can increase humidity around plant by trapping melody around the plants . That in turn can keep soil from becoming excessively dry and slim down the amount of watering required .
5. Drainage
Drainage is another factor to consider , particularly if you are putting a fencing on a slope . A hearty fencing situated at the bottom of a slope can pin down water and be more susceptible to rot and encourage algae growth . Likewise , a well - placed fence could direct and funnel shape water supply where you need it .
In the same way that you wouldplan your gardenbefore breaking ground or think through yourchicken coopbefore constructing it , decorative fence requires paying attention decisiveness - fashioning with respect to your landscape painting , mood , and use for building it .
Fence Inspiration
Now that we ’ve covered some of the practical consideration , rent ’s get into the fun part of project fencing that add beauty to our landscapes .
Decorating Traditional Fences
There are a mountain of ways to make a fencing decorative . The most common direction to do this is to decorate a traditional fencing . Here are a few examples to consider .
By lend anold window , door , or a framed mirror to a solid fence , you make a focal point for care .
In a small space , this give a tone of intimacy . In a large space , it offer the signified of being deep down and familiar rather than outside and subject .
Trompe L’oieis specially interesting for small distance because you’re able to make space feel more expansive . By painting a realistic tract or a flower scape that seems to unfold beyond the fence , you create the illusion of more outer space .
This is a simple proficiency that adds crying involvement and dimensionality to ordinary fencing . It ’s kind of like using wine bottles in filbert houses to create colorful Christ Within displays .
merely by decorating your existing fencing in the same way you would a bulwark of your house , you may make them more interesting . verify whatever material you expend are durable out of doors otherwise they wo n’t last long
By overlay fencing with vining plant life , you clear vertical growing blank space . However , you also make your fence feel like part of the landscape rather than an obstacle or an eyesore .
Decorative Materials
If you really want to create one of a variety fencing , though , you’re able to move beyond traditional fencing material materials into using decorative of free form material .
Living fencesare part instinctive , part manipulation of nature . They take clock time to grow and a lot of preparation and cordon preparation to get your positioning and plant forethought right . Still , they tote up so much born pursuit to a landscape painting that they are totally deserving the effort .
Wattles are thread palisade that can be made with a diverseness of materials . Coppiced fast - develop trees , such as willow or hazel , are frequently used . As long as you plan durable supports and keep the lower portions of these fences from becoming weewee - logged , they can last for many years .
canonic wattles are easy to make . More complicated designs take weaving attainment , patience , and clip .
Old seam underframe , antique exterior shutters , mattress spring , screen door , and more can all be employed to create non - traditional , but very beautiful upcycled cosmetic fence . You may need to incorporate some traditional materials such as woods or metal posts to create stability .
Also , keep in mind , these fences are n’t always cheaper . Mattress springs can be found for free . However , lovely shutters with an aged patina or solid Mrs. Henry Wood screen are in high requirement ( and therefore quite pricey ) in salvage and antique markets .
I have to be honest . I am not a fan ofpallet fenceson my homestead . No matter what I do , they never remain attractive for more than a couple of years .
However , there are band of beautiful , operational example out there for the right-hand landscape . Some multitude also utilize the pallet wood for making faux shiplap over an existing fence or upscaling a plain honest-to-god strand link fencing .
I have a bamboo plot in part of my landscape . So , I fuck to use bamboo for decorative fence .
I just finished making the fence in the picture above using $ 20 worth of baling twine , tools I already had , and a few afternoon of cutting and installing . It will discourage cervid and keep my dog out so I can plant all my wintertime leafy super acid in there .
With no treatment , above - ground bamboo fence can last 4 - 5 long time . If properly cured and varnish before use , bamboo fence can last as long as you are unforced to keep on maintain them .
Fence for Fun!
Fencing is one of those thing that ordinarily gets bar to the “ tedious , but necessary ” side of homesteading projects . Yet it really does n’t have to be that way .
When you start using yourfences to enhancethe aesthetics of your homestead , then you get to engage your originative design skills . That ’s when making fencing starts to be as exciting as dreaming up and manufacture a lovely chicken coop or a gorgeouspotager garden .
When you commence fencing for fun , a once wearisome necessity becomes an exciting opportunity to give tongue to yourself in your landscape painting . you could also translate your work homestead into something that look a whole lot more like a stunningornamental farm .
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