How do I Choose the Best Wood Garden Fencing?

Design and materials will determine the best garden fencing for your yard, and it is important to remember that not all woods are good choices for fencing. Choose wood garden fencing made from high quality woods that have been pressure treated to resist rot, warping, and mold accrual. Only use hardware that is resistant to water, such as stainless steel, to avoid structural problems after a period of being exposed to the weather. Your wood garden fencing will benefit from quality materials, no matter what type of design you choose. Consider the types of plants, too, that will line the fence; some fences are better than others at allowing light to pass through, and some fences allow creeping plants to latch on.

Cedar is a good choice of materials for your wood garden fencing, since it is naturally resistant to water, mold, mildew, and bug infestations. Cedar will be more expensive than other choices, however, so if you are on a tight budget, consider another type of wood that has been properly pressure treated to resist moisture and other common problems. Pine is perhaps the least expensive option, but it is also prone to warping if not treated properly. Adding a stain or paint to the wood garden fencing can help protect it from exposure to the elements as well.

Remember that wood garden fencing can block light from reaching your garden plants if it is too bulky, so choose a design that allows plenty of light to shine through. Trellis fencing is a good choice, though it is not always the most structurally sound design. It will not be able to hold significant amounts of weight unless the trellis is constructed from thicker wood slats. Creeping plants and vines can also attach to the trellis fencing easily, so this is a good choice if your garden contains such plants.

One of the primary jobs of wood garden fencing is to keep animals out of the garden, so consider a design that will be a compromise between security and allowing sunlight to shine through. A post and rail fence can do the job if the pests getting into your garden are larger animals such as deer, though smaller animals will be able to easily get into the garden with this type of fence. A picket fence will be able to keep most animals out of the garden, though the slats will need to be placed farther apart to allow for adequate sunlight.