fence or trellis?

[Two_Sheds]

So, the dilemma is this:

The solid fence panels round our garden are mostly falling apart. We get very strong winds all year, and they just batter the garden.

I now that a successful wind-filter needs to be about 50% permeable and that solid fences create turbulence (as I know to my cost: I have to replace the plastic greenhouses every year).

A hedge would be ideal, but is slow growing. (I have planted holly at the front and pyracantha at the back, but it's only growing a foot a year at most).

Himself is more concerned about privacy, and is insisting on solid fence panels, whereas I am insisting that we need trellis panels. I've told him that they'll soon be covered in climbing plants so people won't be able to see in (and anyway, the front garden isn't fenced at all and people can see us watching TV !)

What I'm wondering is, who has got trellising, what sort? what are you growing up it, and does it successfully filter the wind?

I need to make my case for the defence this week

[Two_Sheds]

or should I go for half-and-half?

I don't think it would do as good a job at filtering the wind as a full trellis though.

[Jeanied]

Half and half may work better for you - I have this and my neighbour has full fencing which keeps blowing down! No perceptible difference in privacy levels between the two - especially with plants growing up.

[Two_Sheds]

I've considered double-sided paling, but it looks horrid

[Jeanied]

I agree TS - my mother has something similar but with horizontal slats not vertical. It uses up a lot of space and you can't easily get to the bits that grow up in between. Having said that she did have mrs blackbird nesting in it one year (unsuccessfully as the cats found it too handy - or should that be paw-y!)

[SarzWix]

I agree that solid panels are a complete waste of time and money. We have solid panels between stone built pillars in our back garden. 3 out of 5 of them blow out every single winter. The other 2 are sheltered by shrubs in next door's garden and generally survive. At the moment, we can't afford to replace the panels yet again, and so the gaps are filled with a mixture of windbreak netting and old fire guards If we'd put trellis in last winter as I'd requested, I'm pretty certain that we wouldn't have a problem...

I'm considering now using those walling blocks made with concrete (I think...), square with the shape of a flower in the middle. If I can find any that is - have no idea what they're called!

[tamsin]

We have trellis along our back fence (public foot path behind). It's got various different plants in front. The pyracantha are very dense where as other plants a bit more see through. The orange pyracantha (right of photo) is much more vigorous than the red (left edge), it easily puts on 4' of growth a year where as the red more like 1'.

We're working on the borders at the moment but this year we also had spaghetti squash and peas (middle) and tomato (right edge). There are plenty of other annuals that would give you privacy quickly over the summer, when you're most outside, until other things got established.

We've also got a grape fine that's covered another fence very rapidly, they have big dense leaves.

I wonder if you could staple the greenhouse shading stuff to the back of trellis panels. I think that's sold as wind protection too (50% holes) and would give you a more solid look. In dark green with plants up too I think it would look quite neat as well.

[Bigmallly]

Hi TS, we had tunneling down the side of the house so I decided to put up a trellis fence & gate. It's been up 5 years & still as good as new. I know its not a fence & don't have anything growing up it but will give you an idea of the lifespan.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm considering now using those walling blocks made with concrete

screen blocks?: I just Freegled dozens of them

[Two_Sheds]

We have trellis along our back fence ...I wonder if you could staple the greenhouse shading stuff to the back of trellis panels.

I like the picture, the planting, and the shading idea, thanks.

It's been up 5 years & still as good as new.

Brilliant, just what I wanted to know. I'm going to go for just this type of smaller-hole trellis

[Two_Sheds]

I've just stumbled upon my new favourite: Paliframe fence by Jacksons

[HeyWayne]

We bought some like these:

Fencing > Chevron Weave > 1.80M Meadowbrook Chevron Weave Pressure Treated Fence Panels - 4 Pack

You can't see directly through them, but they do let a certain amount of wind through. However, we're in quite a sheltered location, so I don't know how they'd fair in an exposed site.

[ginger ninger]

I had some new fencing put up in April this year, its not the best looking fence but it cuts a lot of the wind out while still lets it circulate, it has concrete panels at the bottom to stop it rotting, its just under 2 meters tale so the privacy is brilliant.

[SarzWix]

That's them T_S, ta Not the prettiest things in the world, but they'd stay put I think, and stop next-door's nasty ankle biter (jack russell) from getting in and trying to eat my cats!

I like that last fence you posted pic of, will Mr Sheds pass that one?

[Two_Sheds]

I like that last fence you posted pic of, will Mr Sheds pass that one?

If I tell him it's a really expensive designer original, then prolly!

Seriously, I'm getting fed up with this fence lark. We need to get it done before the plants start growing again in April.

I'm also trying to sort out new carpets and we can't agree on colours (the bloke won't get back to me, but he's a mate of a mate so I feel obliged to use him) and a greenhouse (that's another battle because I want a lean-to, and Himself wants a 3 foot square invisible one).