Decorative Yard Fencing
Far from a strictly functional barrier, a well-designed fence can be a landscaping element that beautifies the yard. Indeed, a strategically located piece of fence need not even enclose a space. It can offer a feeling of separation between two areas, a backdrop for a sitting area or focal point, or a scaffold for climbing plants. The possibilities are really only limited by the imagination.
Lattice, slat or ironwork fencing can be a wonderful addition to the garden. These types of fencing can provide a barrier while retaining an open feeling between spaces. They are also fabulous backdrops for plant life. A climbing vine or flowering annual grown over the fence can beautifully compliment a collection of flowers or vegetables in front of it. It can also create a sense of privacy and intimacy.
A well-placed decorative fence can strategically hide a neighbor’s property or an ugly object. One of the least desirable, yet necessary, items in most back yards is the inevitable collection of garbage cans and recycling bins. While most homeowners keep the garbage cans as far removed from the yard’s living spaces as possible, they are frequently still in view and can disrupt an otherwise pleasant environment. A simple lattice fence can solve this problem. It can also be used to hide an air conditioning unit, the control panels for a sprinkler system, a swimming pool or a hot tub, or to enclose a dog run. Moreover, a fragrant vine grown up such a barrier can mask any unpleasant odors from the garbage.
When building a decorative fence for your yard, keep the scraps! Rather than discarding those short pieces you remove in building the fence, simply stake them into a pot or another area of the yard. This provides an additional focal point while making use of a scrap piece that would otherwise be wasted. Moreover, the repetition of similar elements in various locations of the yard is an easy way to give your garden a sense of unity.
A garden space can also benefit from short, decorative fence sections bordering flowerbeds. Frequently no more than a foot or so high, these sections are placed in front of the garden, rather than behind it. They can keep small animals out of the gardens, separate the flowerbed from a lawn or walkway, and offer a structural element that compliments the soft foliage beyond. Decorative flowerbed fencings can be custom built from scratch just like a larger fence. Alternatively, a wide variety of short modular sections are available at garden centers and reasonably priced. They generally feature short stakes which are simply pushed into the ground to erect the fencing.
For a whimsical fencing element that blends wonderfully with a casual, cottage-style garden, build a lattice out of some old garden tools such as rakes, shovels, and pitchforks by crossing them perpendicular to one another and securing with wire. Stake them diagonally into the ground for an unusual garden fence that will double as a conversation piece for visitors. It can also be used to hang trowels, gardening gloves, small flowerpots and other items for a nostalgic, yet functional outdoor storage element.