Panel beaters!
Think fencing comes in drab 6x6 chunks? Then take a look at these...
MY GARDEN has recently been given a makeover. Not a major overhaul that involves a bank loan, team of landscapers and disruption to everyone’s lives for a couple of weeks, but a simple change that has made a big difference – a stylish new fence has been installed around the perimeter.
The panels of closely spaced horizontal slats replace some old trellis that had been fixed to the low walls around my garden by the previous owners. Faded, rotten and broken in places, the trellis gave my garden a shabby appearance.
Five years since taking on the property and it has finally been consigned to a skip. Within four days of being removed, it was replaced by a structure that provides instant impact. It looks smart, makes the perfect backdrop to my beds and sets the entire garden off perfectly.
My fence went up in the past few weeks, but there’s no right or wrong time. It depends largely on your garden. If you don’t have any borders around the outside, then work can be carried out at any time without fear of damaging plants. Others are better off waiting until displays are dormant.
Apart from their aesthetic qualities, fences have numerous benefits. They establish the boundaries of properties, increase security and provide privacy from prying eyes. Structures prevent children and pets from escap- ing, hide eyesores and have the ability to muffle sound.
I’ve seen many gardens where fences are not just built around the outside. Within the space, shorter panels, screens, trellis, hurdles and similar products are used to define a specific area, such as a vegetable garden, or to divide the garden into ‘rooms’.
In the past, two types of fence were generally available. Feather-edge fencing has panels made up of overlapping boards arranged vertically, while the panels of waney-edge fencing consist of horizontal, overlapping, uneven-edged boards. Both offer maximum privacy and security.
But there are plenty of other options – and decorative panels have become much more popular in recent years. These have boards arranged in an eye-catching way, such as in a diamond or V-shape pattern, or have a GARDEN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR shape that sets them apart. Domed, lattice, concave or wavy-topped panels are some of those available. Off-the-shelf panels tend to be manufactured from softwood that has been pressure-treated or tanalised to prevent it from rotting. Expect to pay about £20 for a bog-standard waney-edge panel, and somewhere between £40 and £70 for something more decorative. My slatted fence is made of 4ft high by 6ft long panels of urban garden screening manufactured by Grange. Obviously the gaps don’t provide full privacy, but this isn’t something that concerns me. Its clean, modern style and linear effect perfectly suits my contemporary space. Hardwood is stronger, longerlasting and easier to maintain than softwood, and lends itself well to designer gardens.
BUT few timber merchants or fencing firms stock ready-made panels due to demand. This is not surprising when individual panels cost anywhere from £100 to £300. Only those with good DIY skills should attempt to put up a fence themselves, as a badly constructed one will look awful and probably fall down in a strong wind. In my opinion, it’s best to call in the professionals.
There are lots of disputes over fences, so I’d advise talking to your neighbours before going ahead with any work.
Treating wood with oil, fence stain, varnish or some other kind of preservative will ensure it lasts a long time. I’ve coated mine with a shade of paint called lichen in exterior eggshell finish. The colour makes an impressive backdrop for plants and will add interest in the depths of winter.
Of course, a fence provides a great opportunity to grow some fantastic plants that need upright supports. Climbers such as honeysuckle, star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) and common jasmine will provide colour and scent all summer. Pretty wall shrubs, such as ceanothus, are another option.
Clematis are a must-have against a fence. There are countless varieties, but summerflowering ones tend to be the most exuberant. Among my favourites are Clematis ‘Star of India’, with its large purple flowers with a carmine stripe down each petal, and pretty ‘Amethyst Beauty’. As my garden faces north, I’m planting species that can cope with shadier conditions. The first to be set against the fence is Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides), a choice climber with flattened sprays of white flowers in spring.