For most people selecting a timber fence is not a common occurrence. Generally an opportunity to select a timber garden fence will come when the fence needs replacing at the end of its natural lifetime, when it has sustained damage from the elements or when the householder decides a make over is required and looks to do a serious landscaping project.

Non of these scenarios are particularly common so for many people choosing a garden fence can prove daunting and they often fall back on ordering a like for like replacement without really considering and weighing up the available options.

If you do opt to go for a new timber fence you should consider a number of factors to get the most suitable fence. Consider how much decoration you want, do you need security/privacy are you after a natural timber fence finish or a painted fence finish? Is the lifespan of the fence important and what sort of budget constraints do you have?

Most people want a timber fence that can supply an element of security and privacy. Whilst a steel fence provides optimum security, a timber fence can, if it is tall enough and flat faced without hand and foot holds provide a degree of security and often privacy. A good timber fence to opt for in these situations is a close board fence. They have a flat, closed fascia and can be erected to a height of three metres.

If your interest lies in the decorative appeal of the timber fence rather than security or privacy you will find many options available. Many decorative fences can also offer a level of privacy if required. For decorative fences you could opt for traditional picket fences that can be installed in heights from 3ft through to 6ft with round top, pointed stop or square top picket options. You could also choose whether or not to have the fence painted in a suitable color or left natural.

Other decorative options include lattice trellis fence panels which are ideal for allowing some light through, climbing opportunities for plants and offer decorative appeal but at the cost ossome privacy. Alternatively you could opt for a panel fence that offers privacy and decoration. These are usually standard width and height panels that have a closed fascia, occasionally a trellis top, and can be bought with timbers in various decorative layouts.

Other considerations when opting for a style of timber garden fence worth considering are budget, lifespan and finish of the fence. The cheapest fence timber tend to be rough sawn timber that is pressure treated for durability. Whilst great on price and lifespan, it is difficult to paint or stain these fences so decorative effect can be limited. On the other hand a planed timber fence is usually more expensive due to the extra timber preparation and tends to not last as long unless brush on stains or paints are used. Most decorative white picket fencing is made from planed timber. Weigh up whether maintenance, lifespan and the look of the timber are as important as durability and cost.

Whichever route you go if you weigh up and consider your requirements for security, privacy and decoration you should be able to make a satisfying choice that will do you good service for years.

Find out more about garden fencing at Tom Bell’s site.

Many a garden utilizes garden fencing to keep animals from wandering in. Most often, you will find these types of fences around vegetable gardens to keep out foraging animals, and often times different models are meant to keep out certain types of animals. For example to keep rabbits out of the garden the fencing itself is not required to be of a tall height but instead is designed to be made of a durable material that the rabbits cannot chew through. If the fence is intended to keep deer out then it will be quite high so that the deer cannot leap over it. Some varieties that you can find are electrified as an additional preventive measure to keep animals out.

Garden fencing is also used to protect the garden from lawn equipment to act as a barrier between the lawn and the garden, and is also used to keep mulch in place in the garden and keep it from slipping away into the lawn.

They can also be fashioned from an array of materials — sometimes making it can be as simple as wire twisted together or as ornate and wrought iron swirls.

There are simple wooden stakes that are connected using rails that can be used when constructing these fences as well. There are so many styles and so many materials that it is difficult to list all of them.

The cost of garden fencing varies depending on the style, the material that is used to craft it, and the exact purpose of putting up the fence. If a style is meant to simply be decorative, it will often cost less than a style that is meant to keep animals from entering the garden. It should be obvious which an individual style is best for upon looking, as well as the price.

Any avid gardener will put a lot of effort into keeping hungry or destructive animals out of their garden. Though the task is not easy and it can be expensive, it is more than worth it for those who are looking to keep their home grown produce protected.

Setting up fencing for your home garden serves to both give your garden area an exciting new look and to keep your plants out of the reach of animals.

If you want a decorative barrier around your garden then installing wooden fencing should be considered. However if not cared for properly it will soon look out of condition. So before you do decide to install this kind of fencing take into account how much you will need to spend each year on maintaining it. If you are unwilling to spend the money needed to care for your wooden fencing then in a few years you may have to spend even more on completely replacing it.

You can if you want employ someone to maintain the fence for you but again this will cost and so most homeowners will rather do this work themselves. In this article we offer some tips which you may find helpful in relation to caring for your wooden fencing properly.

Tip 1 - Every couple of months or so you should carry out a full inspection of your wooden fencing to look for any damage. The type of damage that may occur is splintering, peeling of the paint or stain or mould growing on it. Also at the same time check to make sure that no birds or insects have chosen to make their homes in or on it.

If as you inspect the fence you notice termites on it then this problem needs to be treated immediately. You can do this yourself but it is far better to employ the services of a professional as they will have the necessary equipment to eradicate your problem.

Tip 2 ” As you carry out your inspection should you notice any areas of the fence are protruding or rough then sand these down immediately to prevent causing injury to others. Sometimes it only needs you to sand the area down yourself will suffice to get the work completed.

Tip 3 - If you intend to paint your fence then make sure that you retouch it every 2 years or so. Just as before you should inspect the fence and where paint has begun to flake or chip remove this and ensure that the surface underneath is smooth. This will help the new layer of paint adhere to the wood better. Also it is a good idea before applying the new coat of paint to apply a protective coating to the wood.

Tip 4 ” When painting wooden fencing for the first time it is a good idea to use a colour which either matches or compliments colours in your garden already. But if you don’t want to paint your fencing then stain it instead. Both of these methods will provide ample protection from the elements throughout the coming year.

Tip 5 - When you apply any kind of stain or paint to wooden fencing make sure that you read and follow the instructions provided by the products manufacturer. Also it is important that you allow the first coat to dry completely before applying any further ones to ensure that you evenly coat the fencing.

Above we have provided several tips on how to care for wooden fencing properly once is has been installed. If you do use these then the fence you have installed will look good and last for many years to come.

As well as providing a decorative element to your property, garden fencing can offer a good level of security as well. There are two types of fencing that people will choose to install in their gardens to offer good levels of security for their home. They will either choose wrought iron or wooden privacy fencing. Below we look at what some of the advantages and disadvantages are to having either of these types of fencing installed.

Wrought Iron Fencing - In recent years we have seen an increased popularity in this kind of garden fencing. As well as helping to prevent unwanted visitors from gaining access to a garden it looks nice as well. This type of fencing does not have many decorative elements but still looks great and won’t make your garden feel too enclosed because of the gaps between the iron work.

If you are looking for garden fencing which will create a focal point then this is the one you should be considering installing. Also the great thing about this type of fencing compared to some of the others now available is that it doesn’t need as much maintenance to keep ensuring that it looks great in the future. However, you should at least each year check it and where any paint has been removed or come away treat with a anti rusting agent before repainting.

Wooden Privacy Fencing - This type of garden fencing is considerably cheaper to buy than wrought iron but unfortunately doesnt look as decorative. In fact this is utility fencing that again will prevent unwanted visitors from gaining access to your garden and home. Plus this type of fencing doesnt provide very much in the way of allowing additional natural light into your garden. Yet this type of fencing ensures that no one can easily see into your garden and into the back of your property.

Also one needs to be aware with this form of fencing it needs to be regularly maintained to keep it in good condition. You may find that each year a protective coating either wood stain or paint will need to be applied to ensure that it is well protected against the elements.

As stated in this article both these types of garden fencing are suitable for preventing unwanted guests including animals from getting on to your property. However, before you do install any type of fencing for your garden make sure that you don’t need permission to do so. In some cases if the fencing goes above a certain height then permission will need to be sought from the locally planning authority to do so. Also remember that with the wooden fencing although your side is being maintained the side in your neighbours garden may not be.