5 Tips For Integrating A New Fence Into The Landscape

Fencing can serve many purposes, from privacy and safety to simple property line management. New fencing should also be designed to blend in with and complement the surrounding landscape. 

1. Choose Maintainable Materials

Certain fencing materials require more hands-on maintenance than others, so it is imperative you select materials that can be maintained in your landscape design. If you prefer a fence you can ignore once installed, then metal or vinyl is the best option. Wood fences will require some periodic painting or sealing to prevent rot issues. Sealing wood can be especially difficult if the fence is to become a backdrop to your landscape, such as if hedges or vines will be growing right up against the fencing.

2. Plan for Landscaping Challenges

It can be difficult when putting in a new fence in a yard that has already been fully landscaped. Chances are you want to disturb the established landscape as little as possible. An example of a challenge is if a mature tree you want to keep lies along the proposed fence line. Your installer can provide a few solutions, such as building a fence bump-out around the tree or altering the fence line slightly to bypass the tree.

3. Consider Plant Behaviors

What plants are currently along the perimeter of the fence or what types of plants do you hope to put there? This will have a direct bearing on the style of the fence. If your goal is to grow climbing roses or a vining plant, you may prefer an open fence, such as wrought iron, aluminum, or chainlink, to act as a trellis for your climbers. On the other hand, if you have shrubs that you don't want to grow through the picket openings, then solid panel vinyl fencing will provide a better barricade. 

4. Install Curbing Coverage

One problem area along any fence is directly under the fence line. It can be challenging to mow or trim grass and weeds growing right up against the fence, so the area can begin to look a bit unkempt. One solution is to install some sort of threshold curbing beneath the fence. Poured concrete works well and will require no maintenance. You can also create a mulch-filled trench, such as gravel mulch that works well, as a curbing threshold. 

5. Match the Design

Finally, make sure the design works with the look of your landscaping and your home's exterior. An informal cottage-style garden, for example, may look best with white pickets while a more formal landscape with a stately old Victorian home exterior may really shine with wrought iron or steel iron-look fencing. 

Contact a fence installation service for help when it comes to designing and putting in a fence that works with your existing landscape.