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If you’re a Texan, you may be a don’t-fence-me-in kind of a person. But if you’re a gardener, you may be a this-space-needs-a-fence kind of a person. Whichever you are, there are several things to consider before digging the first post hole.

You can Google “fences” and get a half million responses.

n You can check out information at the public library.

You could browse through books at the local hardware/builders store.

Whichever you choose, make some thoughtful decisions about building the fence before getting started, either as a ‘DIY’ (Do It Yourself) or as a contract project.

Before you build, give careful thought to why you need a fence.

There are several reasons why people install fences:

Security and control of access

A fence may provide a security barrier to help prevent people and animals (unless it’s a cat) from entering your property, or preventing small children and animals from leaving your property.

Also, consider if locks are needed, the number of gates and their location, and if separate gates are needed for people and for vehicles/mowers.

City ordinances may require a fence to restrict access to a swimming pool for the safety of young children.

Buffering

For people living near heavily traveled roads, busy factories or any noisy, bustling area, high, thick fences may help buffer the noise.

Establishing boundaries

Marking the boundaries of the property will help create a visual sense of definition. As well, different parts within the yard may need to be defined, such as the rose garden, the dog run or the recreational area.

Improving appearance

A fence creates a sense of balance and stability, thus enhancing the property’s appearance. For example, a home that is close to a sidewalk appears to have more land when a fence separates it from the street.

Fences may harmonize with the landscaping serving as a backdrop for a bed of tulips or a support for climbing roses or vines.

Privacy

“Good fences make good neighbors” is a proverb that is still true today. Fences 6 feet tall or higher are considered privacy fences because they block the view from outside.

Always check with city ordinances before beginning construction so that no mistakes in height, location and right of ways are made.

In addition call Texas One Call (1-800-545-6005) 48 hours before digging in order to check for underground service lines. The law requires this.

FENCE MATERIALS

If you’ve not built a fence in the last several years, you will be amazed at the various options now available now. The main fencing materials include chain link, aluminum and steel tubing, vinyl, brick or stone, and wood.

The number one fencing material is chain link, due to its low cost and durability. The warranty on a chain link fence should be five to 15 years.

Now there are slats available that can be inserted into the fence, which enhance privacy.

To add more privacy, annual vines or ivy or perennial plantings add permanent concealment.

More costly than the chain link fence are the aluminum and steel tubing material type fences. Although practically maintenance-free, this material may come with a lifetime warranty as an added incentive.

Some fence companies now produce prefabricated standard-size components in standard heights and widths, reducing the cost.

The stone fence, seen more frequently in New England than in Texas, is about 2 feet tall and used to identify property lines.

A brick fence complements the home as well as provides a great buffer to noisy nearby industries or traffic. This fence can be built to any height and is almost maintenance-free.

The second most common type of material is wood, made from either redwood, cedar or pressure treated pine. The wood fence allows for more flexible designs, but has the highest maintenance requirements.

Wood fences can be allowed to weather to a natural gray or can be stained, although staining requires regular maintenance.

In order to decrease wood rotting, a rot board, a 2 inch by 6 inch board, can be installed horizontally along the bottom before placing the slats.

Improperly installed wood fence posts are subject to rot, which will shorten the useful life of the fence.

Interesting plantings or wall planters can be used to break up a long expanse of wood fence so that it is more interesting and less monotonous.

BUILDING A FENCE

There are three basic types of wood fences – post-and-rail, picket and solid board. Louvers, slats, trellises and gates can be used to frame a particular view.

When building a picket fence, use of thick or ornate posts, and alternating short pickets make the fence more interesting.

Kevin Geist in “How to Build Wooden Gates and Picket Fences” (Stackpole Books, 1994) encourages unique designs and offers more than 100 plans for pickets and gates, from the “sweet little hearts picket fence” to the more ornate “Alpine gothic fence.”

The solid board fence is definitely the most private, but some homeowners are using a shadowbox design, which offers privacy and air flow. If more height is needed, a rail or lattice can be added at the top.

Once you have determined your reason to build a fence and have selected the appropriate materials, you’re ready to work on a plan that enhances your property. No need to hum “Don’t Fence Me In.”

The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas Cooperative Extension-Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, Texas 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.