Fence, Hedge, Screen, Wattle, Lattice, Picket Fence - Fence Your Site

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Reliable hedges guarantee privacy and safety for summer residents

Fences are serious structures. They must be reliable, safe, provide a quiet privacy, defining the boundary of the site. Their purpose is to protect people and animals, add aesthetics to the garden, improve its microclimate, reduce noise and keep dust from passing vehicles.

Fences such as fences, hedges, screens, fences, lattices, picket fences, light fences and other similar fences are aimed at performing these functions. The choice of fences reflects the need, interests, taste and financial capabilities of the owner. If you live together with your neighbors, then there is no need to build a high fence. Here the habit of determining the place and boundary of the site rather prevails. In this case, the hedges are not made powerful. It is enough to make them 60 cm high. They are open and clean, free to communicate with neighbors.

Now fences are also used to fence off a plot of land to mark the exact boundary of the property in accordance with the requirements of the cadastral plan. The aesthetics of a hedge requires taking into account all aspects and, above all, the appearance of the plot of land, the style of the garden. The material for making fences is very diverse: wood, brick, concrete, natural stone, cobblestones, limestone, shell rock, sandstone, metal mesh and, finally, hedges. Each type of fencing has its own pros and cons.

Tree. Wood is the most affordable, easily purchased material. It is easy to handle for any style. From it you can get parts of the same size, it is easy to plan and shape them and build your own fence. Naturally, it is necessary to use trees that are not amenable to decay, such as pine, spruce, fir. The remains of the forest after cutting down are often used. Most gardeners have wooden fences - simple, uncomplicated, inexpensive, much cheaper than bulky walls. They are quite durable. They are easy to make decorative for any facade. This type of hedge is best suited to rural or wooded gardens, which we have the majority. These enclosures generally do not contain dust, prying eyes and wind, but create an open space in the air. They are easier to movereplace or expand. They can be of any height.

Lightweight, transparent, they make it possible to create a picturesque hedge up to 2.5 m high from flowers and shrubs. On the trellis, a hedge can be up to 4 meters. There are many styles of wood hedges. There are plenty to choose from. For example, a spectacular decorative fence made of stakes. It is one of the popular styles with almost unlimited design possibilities, especially the white painted hedge. By the way, the white stake hedge is the classic, most traditional and common type of hedge for most gardens in Western countries. There are great possibilities in both placement and decoration of stakes, posts and railings. Unfortunately, we paint fences in any color, but not white. Although the choice of color is a matter of taste. But in any case, the color of the fence should be combined with the plants and the house on the site.

Picket fence is another style of wood. This type of hedge is represented by a panel of 3-10 cm wide pieces of wood, stacked closely to each other. For its device, wooden or metal (often metal pipes) poles are first installed. Then ready-made picket panels are reinforced on them.

Poles, stakes, prefabricated panels and other semi-finished wooden fences can be purchased at specialized stores.

To create a fence, dead trees are used that died from a hurricane, rejected, fallen or cut down at a felling, which are at least half preserved. They are pretreated with anti-rot preparations as a ready-made timber.

Amateur gardeners on small farms create a simple hedge using dry branches, nailing them to railings or poles, or creating a fence.

It is not difficult to create a wattle fence from willow branches. First, willow stakes are driven in along the contour of the selected territory at a distance of 40-50 cm. Then, long willow rods are selected and interlaced between the pegs, masking the ends of the rods. Willow stakes, driven into the ground in spring, can take root and grow. Ultimately, a picturesque hedge is formed.

The palisade is created from pillars, beds, and spruce stakes.

In rural areas, a spindle fence is used. It is constructed of poles (slugs), stakes and twigs, most often birch.

The stakes are driven into the ground in pairs, they are tied in eight in three or four places with birch twigs. Poles are placed on these weaves. They can be laid horizontally or at an angle to create attractive fences.

Disadvantages of wood material. The alternation of heat and cold, dryness and rain creates extreme situations for wooden fences. Under the influence of the sun's ultraviolet rays, the tree turns gray, cracks and gradually crumbles. Parts that are in direct contact with the ground are particularly affected. Constant dampness contributes to the appearance and reproduction of fungi, bugs and worms in them that decompose the tree.

The best prevention is "constructive" tree protection. This refers to all kinds of measures to protect a wooden surface from moisture. There should be no grooves on the wooden surface for stagnant moisture. Canopies, protective "caps" and other devices at the joints, as well as beveled or rounded so that the water can drain freely, can help.

Types of wood that are relatively resistant to destruction - pine, spruce, fir - are impregnated with a protective composition. Typically, this impregnation is carried out in the factory. In other words, wooden parts with such impregnation can be bought in a store. On your own, you can protect the tree by covering it with special protective compounds. Recently, Pinotex has been widely used. It reliably protects the tree from wind and moisture. When painting, it is recommended to use water-based paints, which are more environmentally friendly.

Metal. Metal is also used for fences for various purposes. Metal fences are expensive and are made in accordance with the well-being of the owner. A strong metal fence is made of wrought iron, but due to its high cost, it is still in low demand. The complexity of maintenance lies in protecting the fence from rust, it must be removed regularly and the fence painted.

Combined hedges. Fences can be made from a combination of different materials. For example, brickwork pillars instead of wooden pillars, metal pillars or concrete blocks and wood paneling. The foundation of the fence, decorated with stones from the outside, creates a sense of massiveness and solidity of the wall. The metal parts of the fence are combined with painted wooden posts. Brick wall with wrought iron elements, wood with stone or brick, brick and cast iron create a gorgeous, elegant look.

Brick and concrete fences. Tall brick and concrete fences without decoration are boring. To soften the strict appearance from the outside, planting deciduous or coniferous trees is desirable.

Greening a fence from the inside largely depends on the specific conditions - lighting, humidity, garden design and flower garden composition. The selection of the shapes of flower beds (flower beds, ampel structures) is dictated by the need to combine vertical walls with horizontal plantings. Plants are selected that are the same in color or texture of the leaves. They may be of the same species, but different varieties. For example, on a flower bed there is a low-growing tuberous begonia, and on the wall there is a flowerpot with ampel-shaped flowers.

Any vertical wall is a great area to create vertical landscaping. In addition to the ubiquitous use of all kinds of vines, it is worth decisively attracting container plants, fixing them in pots on the walls. The possibilities are endless. The best option if space for pots is provided when building a wall in the form of shelves or niches.

Solid fence type - for wealthy garden owners. These fences are durable, protect from prying eyes, wind, dust. Another reason for creating dense fences is the need to secure property. The negative side of them is that they create a poorly ventilated, closed space. A solid fixed wall serves as an obstacle if you want or need to increase the area of the garden or change its design.

There are various low hedges, rather symbolic, dividing the site into functional zones. They can decorate each area with an original design. Fences can be fixed, firmly installed.

Among the symbolic fences, the role of a style-forming element is played by wattle fences, palisades, and spinning. They are inherent in a natural, rural style.

Maintenance of hedges. The type and maintenance of the fence depends mainly on the material used in the construction, the combination of different materials, paint and weather conditions. Together, these factors determine the need to repaint a wooden fence every four to five years. This may be required in a shorter time, if the original painting is done carelessly, somehow.

If during construction and before painting the tree is treated with anti-rot preparations and mastic, then this can prolong the life of the fence.

Any wood hedge will last longer if kept clean. Spraying it with a strong hose stream to wash off fallen and rotting leaves or other vegetation adhering to the corners can damage the wood base.

Climbing plants on a hedge can create ideal conditions for destruction if the hedge is made from different species of clippings. A healthy tree is not a hassle.

Dense hedges keep moisture in. If wooden supports under vegetation need to be painted to keep them from rotting, the plants are carefully removed and laid on the ground. Then carefully paint the hedge, and then return the plants to their original place.

In some cases, this process is facilitated by cutting off the lateral branches of climbing plants up to 30-40 cm from the ground. They grow freely again on the support.

Metal fences rarely need painting. When repainting metal (wood or other material) is required, it is best to first remove all old paint, remove rust and prime any unevenness before painting.

Vinyl-covered hedges. Some metal mesh hedges are covered with vinyl. Vinyl covering the hedge is virtually maintenance-free unless it is physically damaged. If the coating is broken, paint is applied. Sometimes some vinyl paint is included with your hedge when you buy it. Sold in garden markets, these hedges are usually dark green, rarely white.

Practical advice

• Before painting the surface, it should be sanded, cracks and peeling removed. Then cover with a protective compound.
• Oil-based or synthetic-based paints hide the texture of the wood, but give the desired color.
• Wooden structures in contact with plants should be painted only with environmentally friendly water-borne paints.
• Wooden poles, even those impregnated with a protective compound, will soon begin to rot if you dig them directly into the ground. To extend their life, it is necessary to create a gravel drainage layer.
• A reliable method of protection is stainless steel supports, cemented in a concrete base, which is immersed in the ground.
• Natural hedges blend well with the surrounding nature.
• Treated and rot-resistant wood, such as pine, spruce, fir, fades over time, fades and turns gray. Timely processing, coloring or impregnation prolongs its life and natural color.
• For outdoor painting of the fence, you can use any color that suits the conditions.
• A dark-colored hedge appears to be removed.
• The wood must be completely dry before painting. Otherwise, the paint will bubble due to the evaporating moisture.
• The use of paint should be abundant, as the wood can absorb it.
• When painting wood, it is better to work with a brush than with a spray gun.
• When painting metal fences, the highest quality paints are used.
• In order to save time, a spray gun is used instead of a brush.

When building any hedge, think about how you will feel when passing next to it. Whether you are touching it or growing trees nearby. Consider flower gardens next to or a few steps from the hedge. Do the plants remember the dogs walking in the garden?

We can't do without fences yet. With all my heart I wish you all success, harmony and beauty.

Tamara Barkhatova