Fencing advice please

[shirlthegirl43]

OH and I have decided that before we build my new greenhouse, we need to replace the fence between our garden and our neighbour. The greenhouse will be built as close to the fence as possible to utilise space to the fullest.

I wondered if you wonderful grapes could recommend a style of fencing which will be relatively inexpensive, easy to build and allow the wind to go through. We would prefer a timber fence and have been told by the neighbour on the other side that larch-lap panels just blow away when the wind hits. Our garden is quite sheltered but when the wind hits it does it big time.

The garden is approximately 30 feet wide and 150 feet long (probably under-guessing here) and the long side runs almost east-west. Looking forward to your suggestions

[Nicos]

How about trellis
- it would allow some air flow through, light into that side of your greenhouse, and it could be used to grow veg/fruit /flowers up giving a bit more privacy as well as crops.
If a panel were to blow down, you could easily reattatch it with plants still attatched.
If you only grew annuals up it, it would be plant free in the autumn/winter/spring when you'd get the strongest winds!

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks for the suggestion Nicos - I now realise I missed out some info!

The fenceline is made up of mature trees and currently has chainlink fence running through it. However, we had to have a small earthmoving machine in to do sewer repairs and now there is a gap where I did have my garden bench/arbour affair but the high winds keep blowing it into next door.

I am therefore not bothered about growing stuff up the fence - it is for privacy and to keep our dog in our garden more than for anything else. Also not bothered by the light issue as that side of the garden is rarely in shade - that's why I want the greenhouse on that side.

[sewer rat]

Ranch style fencing will give you privacy and act as a windbreak and being quite sturdy will not blow away. Could this be the answer ?

[shirlthegirl43]

Pardon my ignorance but would Ranch fencing be what I think of as post and rail? If so, not much privacy unless we put an awful lot of rails on I suspect it is something different - now you see my problem - I don't have a clue

[sewer rat]

Not quite post and rail.
Use standard fence posts, and starting at the bottom, nail 4 or 6 inch wide boards onto these on alternate sides of the upright until desired height is reached. The boards form a continuous visual barrier so giving you privacy but because they are on alternate sides of the uprights, they allow wind through so are unlikely to be blown over and take all the force from the wind at the same time.
Hope this helps

[sewer rat]

Just to make it clearer, the top of the board on your side of the upright is the same height as the bottom of the board on far side of the upright. Then the top of that board is level with bottom of the next board on your side, then the top of that board is level with the bottom of the next board on the far side etc etc ad infinitum

[shirlthegirl43]

Yup - I can follow that. That is what we have on the other side - neighbour called it hit me miss me fencing! It is pretty good but is a pain to paint and the dog can get through some of the spaces. Two answers I guess - make smaller gaps or get a bigger dog

Gonna cost a lot though I guess!

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi Shirley,

The fencing and gates at the front of our house were made from reclaimed pallets, Mr D's dad is a brickie, so he saved us a load, then carefully broke them down into 4'6" planks, then we took our Landrover over to fetch them (he lives in Hull) and they came back with us and helped to make the fences! They are a bit like a heavy duty picket fence, but a lot taller and each fence panel has the top cut in a diagonal, one one way, the other the other, if you get my drift? We left a gap on an inch between each slat, to allow the wind to pass through without knocking over the gates or fence!

They are behind Lee and Bella on this piccy! Hope its of some use as an idea!

[shirlthegirl43]

LOL - I see you used the smaller gap and bigger dog approach! Thanks for that - looks a good idea - now just got to find a hundred or so pallets!

By the way, OH said to let you know he can't find that Mini Cooper ad any more - he thinks it must have been deleted.

[Mrs Dobby]

Lol! She was only a puppy when that was taken( about 21" tall at her shoulder), she's bigger now (about 27" at her shoulder)!

Tell your OH thanks for looking anyhows!

[shirlthegirl43]

what kind of dog is she? Sorry, not usually thick on dog types but the angle is odd.

Will have to post a picture of 'digger' when I find a good one!

[Mrs Dobby]

She's a Great Dane / Alsatian cross breed, has a lot of Dane traits, the most wonderful glossy and sleek coat, but a bit longer haired than a Dane and a bit shorter haried than an Alsatian. She's my baby, loves to cuddle and would sleep on the bed if she wasnt kicked off every night!

[shirlthegirl43]

Here's a picture of Ludo from when he was slim and not grey (boy can I empathise) as you can see he is not very tall! He would probably love to sleep on the bed too but he can't get upstairs never mind get on the bed!

[Mrs Dobby]

Awww! He's cute!!

I know what you mean re the grey, I'm still in denial, there's one or ten 'lighter blonde' hairs growing from my temples, kind of like the 'Morticia Adams style', but as I'm not 40 for another 8 months yet, then it really doesnt exist!

Mr D on the other hand already has a peppering on his sideburns, and he's 3 years younger than me too!

Minbd you, at least my hair isnt receeding like his is!