5 Important Things to Know on How to Build a Garden Fence
Planning on How to Build a Garden Fence?
Create a custom-made garden fence to give your plants the boundary and safety they need, without worrying about bothersome critters or nosy cats. There are a lot of garden fence ideas out there to follow for your garden space.
Follow this guide for all the resources you’ll require to put together an affordable DIY project that will keep your garden safe and secure!
Choose from different types of fences depending on what works best in your space – then get ready to start building.
How to build a garden fence?
Why is building a Garden Fence important?
It’s Pleasing To Look At!
If you want to turn your garden into a stylish and secure haven, our last key benefit is for you. Decoration!
A superior quality fence can bring form and flair as well as privacy protection to your outdoor refuge – all while making it more enjoyable than ever before!
Privacy in your Yard
If your neighbor’s house overlooks and disrupts the peace of your outdoor oasis, or they can see you enjoying a meal outside through gaps in the hedge, it is understandable that you would prefer to have more private space. We completely sympathize with this desire!
Installing a garden fence gives you adequate privacy to host gatherings with your loved ones and even get some sunbathing done on those rare warm British days.
Moreover, it provides an excellent security measure for children playing outside as unwanted strangers can be kept away from sight.
The beauty of having garden fencing is being able to maintain good ties with neighbors while also safeguarding your privacy – creating a cozy neighborhood in which everyone can thrive!
Protection From Nature
Protect and preserve your hard-earned garden with a garden fence.
This barrier creates a shield between your garden and harsh winds while still allowing sunlight to reach vulnerable veggies, flowers, and other plants; plus it is an alluring deterrent for wildlife that would otherwise enjoy munching on those carrots or tomatoes just as much as you do!
Keep deer out of sight so you can reap what you sow with this wildlife block.
It Sets An Exact Space
By establishing a perimeter with fencing, you create an area of definitive measurements.
This is an immense benefit when attempting to calculate how much room there is for your plants and the necessary gardening products such as fertilizer, soil, mulch, etc.
Furthermore, it can help in diminishing excess materials bought by accurately determining what needs to be purchased – thus allowing your garden to reach its fullest potential!
It’s Great To Ensure a Safe Space for your Plants and Flora
With a garden fence, your plants can flourish beyond anything you could have imagined.
Placing berries on the edge of the garden and allowing them to climb up the side gives way for something special.
Plus, other crops such as snap peas and tomatoes can produce their best results with some extra support by using a fence!
What You’ll Need
Tools
- Hammer
- Tamping bar
- Staple gun or crown stapler
- Drill
- Level
- Miter saw
- Measuring tape
- Brad nailer
- Bucket/container for cement mixing
- Kreg jig
Supplies
- String
- 4x4x6 treated posts (amount will depend upon fence length)
- 80-pound bags of concrete (one for each post)
- 1x4x8 treated planks
- 2-inch exterior wood screws
- Exterior paint or stain
- Brush, roller, or sprayer
- Fencing roll
- 2-inch finishing (brad) nails
- Gate hardware, hinges, and latch
- 2.5-inch pocket hole screws
- 2 2×4 treated planks
Preparations
Before you start building your homemade garden fence, take a few moments to plan it out with pen and paper – especially if you’re thinking of extending or shortening any sections.
Measuring tape, twine, stakes, and other materials are essential tools for creating an accurate blueprint that takes into account, not just the perimeter but also leaves enough room for a gate.
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, there are lots of kinds of pests that are detrimental to your garden’s health. Some of them are easily insects like aphids, spider mites, bugs, worms, and caterpillars. You can look at a list of what endangers the welfare of your plants here. Most of them can be as big as rabbits, deer, and raccoons.
By using this simple method to measure twice before cutting once, you’ll know exactly how much hardware is needed for your DIY Garden Fence, and can save you from making multiple trips to the store!
Choose your Materials for your Own Garden Fence
When deciding which type of fence to construct, it is important to consider what you wish for the barrier to contain or keep out.
Here are some advantages and disadvantages that come with utilizing wood, chicken wire, vinyl, or metal fences—all commonly employed by DIYers.
Wood
Installing a wood fence can be an excellent way to lend your garden and yard classic charm. If you take care of it properly, these fences are made to last for up to 10-15 years!
However, due to the lack of security from outside critters such as mice or rabbits that they provide, if safeguarding your plants is paramount in importance this might not be the best choice for you.
Chicken Wire
Chicken wire is an affordable and efficient choice for keeping unwanted pests out of your garden. It’s easy to maintain, simple to repair, and it won’t impede the view of your garden since it’s transparent.
Plus, its mesh size allows you to stop both small and large intruders from gaining entry!
Vinyl
Although it may cost slightly more than wood at $10 to $40 for every linear foot of material, vinyl offers ease in cleaning and maintenance as well as superior pest prevention capabilities.
Metal
Enhancing the aesthetic of your garden, metal fences such as aluminum, steel, and wrought iron are ornately detailed designs that will clearly define the boundaries of your outdoor living space without obstructing the view.
Although visually appealing for their intricate patterns, these materials may not be suitable for keeping out pesky creatures due to their openness.
Steps in Making Your Garden Fence For Your Vegetable Garden
1. Stake Out and Dig Post Holes
Start by identifying the corners and end points of your fence, then mark them with stakes. Subsequently, dig deep holes that are 2 feet in depth using either a shovel or a post-hole digger at each spot you’ve marked.
For extra assurance that your posts will stand firm within their foundations, make sure to create holes two to three times wider than the diameter of your posts; this way, there’ll be enough space for cement!
To ensure a neat, symmetrical look for your posts and gate, use a level and measuring tape to make sure the holes you have dug are all of an equal size.
Additionally, don’t forget to account for any additional costs that may be necessary when fitting in the gate!
2. Set Posts on a Concrete
For each post, combine an 80-pound bag of concrete in a separate bucket. Then take one post at a time and place it into the hole – use either a hammer or tamping bar to make sure it’s steady in the ground.
Subsequently, fill up the gap with concrete and apply level to be certain that your posts stay upright as you’re pouring.
Repeat this procedure until all posts have been installed correctly; then give some time for them to dry out completely before continuing to build anything else on top of them.
3. Paint the Fence and Rails
Before you assemble your fence, take advantage of the individual panels and rails to quickly paint them with a brush, roller, or sprayer.
Even if you’re fond of raw wood’s appearance and don’t want to paint it, giving it a protective finishing coat will help preserve its quality for longer.
With this step taken care of before assembly, you can look forward to enjoying your beautiful new fence!
4. Dig A Trench Around Your Garden
If you’d prefer to leave a gap between the base of your fence and the ground, feel free to skip this step.
However, it is important to note that constructing a fence into the earth can be an effective way of keeping pests away from your yard.
When you’re prepared to begin building, excavate a 1/2-foot deep and 2-feet wide trench along its periphery.
5. Line the top and bottom of your Fence Posts With Rails
Once your trench is ready, measure the space between each post and use a miter saw to cut out 1-by-4-foot wooden planks that will fit in those gaps.
Put one rail into the ditch then secure it to the posts using a drill and 2-inch exterior screws.
Repeat this process until you have completely covered up the bottom of the trench. For extra precision, continue working upwards with caution while making sure everything lines up perfectly straight.
6. Attach your Fence
Reinforcing your fence with chicken wire or a fencing roll is simple. To cover any gaps between posts and the railing, measure exactly how much of the product you will need.
Then, use either 2-inch brad nails with a brad nailer or a staple gun to affix it to the wood across its entire length.
A chicken wire fence or picket fence is good against small animals. Wire fencing is best against much bigger animals who can intrude.
7. Build A Gate
Before putting up a gate, make sure to leave an approximate three-quarter-inch gap between each post for it to swing smoothly.
Then, with the help of a miter saw, cut your wood railing into pieces that will comfortably fit in this space and join them together using 2.5-inch pocket hole screws.
Next use a Kreg jig to drill two holes at the top and bottom of each side piece before fastening chickens wire onto the gate by hammering in some brad nails or stapling gun if preferred then hang hinges on either side along with the latch so you can easily open close your new garden fence – all ready for you enjoy!
Conclusion
Now you know how to build a DIY Garden Fence. Follow these steps and you’ll have a beautiful, sturdy fence that will last for years.
Make sure to paint or finish the wood before assembling your fence for optimal durability and protection from weathering.
You can still have added protection for your outdoor space by adding raised garden beds to double up and make it a critter-proof garden fence.
Finally, don’t forget about how important it is to line up all of your posts correctly so everything looks perfect when you’re done! Good luck building