There are many reasons for deciding to erect a fence around your back yard or garden. For some, it's a matter of privacy, and a feather edge fence, solid wood through and through, is the obvious choice. Security is a concern for others - again, a wood fence, either a feather edge fence or lap fencing, are excellent choices. Trellises and arches, lattice and border edgings all serve decorative purposes. There are also choices of metal fences, cast iron and chain link, that can be used for garden fencing.
Nearly any fence that you choose, however, will be erected and supported by fence posts - wood or metal. The choice of fence posts will make the difference in how durable your wood fence is and how well it will serve the purpose.
Choosing The Right Fence Posts
Most handymen and construction workers agree that for general purposes, the best fence posts for most wood fences are 4x4 pressure treated posts. Their height should be determined by the desired height of the fence.
The top of the fence posts should be shaped or cut in some way to allow for runoff of rain as a weather protection measure. Leaving them flat allows rainwater to collect and damage the wood over time.
Obviously, for less sturdy fences than a full wood fence, a less sturdy style of fence post may be appropriate.
Installing Fence Posts
There are several methods of installing fence posts for a wooden garden fence. The most common is to sink the posts directly into the ground. For posts up to 1.4 m, at least 600 mm (2 feet) should be buried beneath the ground. Posts larger than that should be buried at least 750 mm (2 1/2 feet) deep. Once buried, the posts should be secured with concrete to keep them from loosening in high winds of through wear.
Other ways to install fence posts include using a metal socket (or sleeve) that can be driven into the ground on a spike and used to hold the fence post in place.
In any case, the fence posts must be installed perfectly vertical to be sure that the fence is installed properly. As each fence post is installed, a level can be used to check the angle to be sure that it is set vertical and square.
Selecting the right fence posts and setting them properly so that they're square and plumb is one of the most challenging parts of building your fence, but if you get it right, the rest of the fence will be easy to build. Take the time to do the job right.