A little cottage in the country with a garden and a white picket fence - since time immemorial, garden fencing has figured into the fantasy of a warm, welcoming home. Garden fencing serves many purposes, from keeping out pests to defining boundaries to decoration. Whether your intent is to protect your tender plants or to add a decorative touch to your front yard with some border edging, you'll find that there are many different kinds of garden fencing to suit your needs. Consider the following options for different purposes.
Garden Screens
One of the main reasons that people decide to put up garden fencing is to screen out offending views. Stockade fences, trellises of wood or metal, bamboo and PVC can all be used to fence off an area for privacy or just to improve the view. Some of the prettiest, most natural options is an open mesh screen in PVC to serve as a support for roses or morning glories to create a living fence.
You can also use wood or stockade fencing in novel ways to add interest to your garden area. Try setting two lengths of wooden garden fence at an angle to each other in an unexpected place, and plant a wedge-shaped flower garden at the intersection. You can turn the 'garden wall' into a decorative accent by using the wooden fencing to hang planters or plaques, or to display a collection of antique gardening tools. Imagination is the only limit.
Post and Rail Garden Fencing
A rustic alternative to the white picket fence is a post and rail fence along the edge of a lawn or garden. Left unpainted, the natural wood will weather to a beautiful silvery patina. Painted in your home's accent color, it ties the house and the garden together. For a very pretty effect, plant a rosebush at every third or fourth post to train up the post and along the rails.
Border Garden Fencing
One of the most popular forms of garden fencing is a low border edging. There are many styles and materials used for border edging, from inexpensive cedar shake on a wire backing to elaborate cast iron or white painted iron fencing sections. There are more affordable options as well, including cast PVC fence sections that can be simply pushed into the ground around your flower beds to create a decorative border.
No matter which fencing style you choose, keep in mind that it's not always necessary to fence the entire perimeter. An angled corner in black iron can be both a deterrent to wandering little feet and a lovely design accent to emphasize a beautiful hosta that nearly overflows it. Garden fencing is an excellent way to finish off your landscaping. Explore your garden fencing options, and you'll be sure to find just the accent that your garden needs to be perfect.