how to build a living fence

If your living fence is a nitrogen-fixing species, it will feed the plants alongside it. Take a look at support systems for growing grapes, although your needs may vary, this should demonstrate the general principles. Enkianthus features clumps of little hanging flowers that typically are white, and it needs little to no trimming to stay in shape. Shower the soil around the roots of flowering shrubs and leafy hedges every few days. 3. Bamboo (shown above) is a hearty, fast-growing type of grass that can form an elegant, effective living fence. Found on Fairy Wings And Dinosaurs. Yew excels in the shade as well as in sun, making it a particularly good choice for sections of a lawn’s perimeter that often are in the shadow of buildings or trees. As a result, your property may be more exposed. Within the farm and on the edge of paths, useful plants like worm-wood, Lucaena, lemon grass and marigold have Horizontal Plank Fence with Metal Posts. To build a wood fence, start by digging holes in the areas where you want to place your fence posts. The resulting layered look will reduce the sense that the yard is surrounded by a wall. But if you’re willing to wait a few years for privacy, small, young trees can cost $15 apiece. Take a walk around your property once or twice a day. Learn how to build living snow fences. The wood works better if it is green and fresh. Take a look at images of the dense hedgerows in rural England farm country for inspiration. If Plants are too close, they can 'girdle' each other's roots, which essentially chokes them to death. photo by gardenista.com. Use string and batter boards to lay out the fence. Privet plants can be positioned as much as four feet apart to form a hedge (though two- or three-foot spacing will create a tighter hedge) for a total price as low as $1 per linear foot. This article was co-authored by Melissa & Michael Gabso. Confirm that the variety you select will grow to the desired height—some varieties of privet grow to only four feet, while others reach eight, 10 or beyond if not kept pruned. photo by survivallife.com. Pay particular attention to spots where animals appear to be getting in or out. To protect your house, yard and driveways from blowing wind and drifts, plant rows of trees parallel to a driveway or road to act as a barrier to the elements. Living hedge sections come in pre-constructed 1m widths and in heights from 1.2 to 2.5m. Shrubs planted close together will not grow as wide as when they are standing alone. Overwatering trees can cause them to weaken and die. On the downside, it is slightly less dense than privet…and somewhat slower growing—it could take an extra year or two for enkianthus to provide full privacy. Melissa & Michael Gabso. For at least the first five years you need to have the ability to water them if conditions require it. Build up to the living fence with plants of increasing height. If there are a few large trees on the property line, it's best to end the fence on either side, rather than attach the rails to the tree. Tie wayward rods in place with garden twine to maintain the fence design, if necessary. Note: Yew is a particular favorite of deer. Flowering shrubs attract insects that in turn help pollinate them and prolong their lives. Sow your living fence between trees or posts lining the perimeter of your yard, field or garden for a more integrated, natural look. Are you considering trees or shrubs as a living fence on your property? What kinds of plant should I use for my living fence? Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Note the length and width the fence will need to be. Plant three to 10 feet apart, depending on width at maturity. A living fence is the perfect way to create borders around your garden and land. [1] Next, choose the plants you want you ‘living wall’ to be made up … Deciduous plants and fruit-bearing trees die off in the winter, leaving them sparsely covered. It’s a good choice only in locations where it will not be able to spread, such as between two paved driveways or in a raised planter. % of people told us that this article helped them. (If there are a few large trees on the property line, it's best to just end the fence on either side rather than attach the rails to the tree). Also, as the article suggested, be sure to use treated wood and allow for plenty of airflow while the plants begin growing. If your fence is to be especially long or follow an intricate path, you may need to build multiple support structures. And most varieties of privet are “deciduous”—that is, they lose their leaves in the winter—so a privet hedge might not provide full privacy year-round. Young one-to-two-foot-high privet plants often can be purchased for just $4 apiece and grow very quickly, typically adding two to three feet of height per year. Living fences can be less expensive, too—installing a wood privacy fence is likely to cost $20 to $30 per linear foot. Young, small yew plants might sell for as little as $10 apiece, but you can easily spend $50 or more for more mature, larger plants. how to make a living fence. You can find cell-grown willows at … It also can be expensive—potentially $30 or more per plant. MG Construction & Decks has been rated as one of the top contractors in the Los Angeles area year after year. One option is to have a living snow fence. 1. You only need enough water to thoroughly moisten the soil around the trunk to a depth of a few inches. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Build-a-Living-Fence-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Build-a-Living-Fence-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Build-a-Living-Fence-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8372226-v4-728px-Build-a-Living-Fence-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"