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Garden Word of the Day
Are you fed up with greed?
Tell everyone how you feel.
#EnoughAlready
Tell everyone how you feel.
#EnoughAlready
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Good fences make good neighbors. Fences in and around your garden can create spaces, cause problems, or they can be sturdy helpers. How do fences impact your garden? Fences add perspective While some gardeners (farmers) prefer wide-open, Nebraska-style landscapes, fencing can create manageable spaces. Short fences can line pathways, providing support to a row of tarragon, oregano, or sweet peppers, while a medium-sized fence can block a view of your pool pump and provide afternoon shade for more delicate plants, such as currants. Tall fences create a sense of security and privacy. They also provide structure for vining plants. Fencing materials have an impact, too. A solid brick or stone fence has a very different feel than a crisp white picket fence, a rustic pole fence, or a cedar plank fence. The materials and the construction method used alter the look and feel of your property and your garden. They also impact the way your plants grow. Fences as barriers Neighborhood fences are a great way to keep kids and pets safely at home. A good fence can also block garden invaders, such as deer, gophers, squirrels, chipmunks, and rats. Of course, some of those pests will need more than a wattle fence (or a very tall fence, in the case of deer) to slow them down, but fences provide a good starting point. For burrowing pests, such as voles and rabbits, the fencing material needs to go underground a ways to be effective. Fences and air flow A solid fence can provide serious protection against strong winds. Rather than tearing through your garden, leaving broken stems and branches in its wake, the wind is pushed over and around your sanctuary, keeping everything safe. Sometimes that safety comes at a price: poor air flow. In gardens prone to fungal diseases, poor air flow is a liability. If you have a solid fence and fungal problems in your garden, judicious pruning for good air flow and proper plant spacing can counteract these problems. Fences as climbing structures
Fences make it easy to grow vines and other climbing plants. They also provide a great support for espaliered fruit and nut trees. Fences can also be used in tandem with planting containers. A mounted rain gutter with end caps can transform a bare fence into a strawberry wall. Short walls or railings provide the support needed for container plants that a re prefect for growing herbs, lettuces, Swiss chards, spinach, and many other edibles, without taking up extra space. Fences are also a great place to hang garden tools! Fences block sunlight The same fences that offer protection from wind and marauding pests are the same structures that can block much-needed sunlight. Most garden plants need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day to thrive. If you have fences, it is important that you take the time to see how much sunlight nearby plants actually get. While a west-facing fence may offer respite from scorching summer afternoon sunlight, an east-facing fence will only provide that protection to your neighbor’s plants. Fence care Some fencing materials, such as chain link or stone, require very little care. Other fences, particularly those made out of wood, have some special needs. Since wod can rot, these tips will help your wood fence last longer:
Make the most out of the fences in and around your garden or foodscape. And, if you have the time, do an online search for “unique garden fence ideas.” There are some gorgeous, creative, stunning ideas out there! 12/20/2020 06:34:01 pm
I liked it when you shared that fences can help offer protection for your loved ones so they can play safely in your compound. My sister just mentioned the other day that she is going to move to a new house next month and it comes with a huge yard where it is a nice spot for her children to play in the evening. I will advise her to install fences so it can help protect them from any harm and threat from the outside world.
Kate Russell
12/23/2020 06:40:45 am
Thank you, Taylor!
Kate Russell
5/26/2022 07:00:00 am
You're welcome, Jay! 5/27/2022 03:41:50 am
This is very informative and helpful to those in the planning stage on what to use. I'm happy that I found this post as it gave me really good insights.
Kate Russell
11/9/2022 08:26:41 am
Thank you, Carol! 5/31/2022 10:57:33 pm
It is interesting that you mentioned that when looking for fences, we need to be mindful of the quality. My dad mentioned he needs to fence his farm. I will remind him to choose something lasting.
Kate Russell
6/7/2022 09:17:53 pm
Hi, Kristofer. 6/8/2022 12:35:48 pm
It's great that you explained that neighborhood fences are a great way to keep kids and pets safely at home. I would imagine that it would be important to make sure that the fences are tall enough that pets and children can't climb them. It would also be important to make sure that the fence doesn't have footholds that could be used.
Kate Russell
11/9/2022 08:26:25 am
Thank you, Thomas! And, yes, those are just a few of the reasons I leave fence-building to the pros. 8/10/2022 12:16:10 am
If I were to enhance my property and add safety to it, I will have a fence installed in my house. I also agree with you that it will be best to choose good quality materials. Thank you for clarifying the importance of repainting the fence when needed. 11/10/2022 10:56:38 am
It was helpful when you said to consider the material you want. My uncle was at my house last night for dinner, and he talked about how he wants to get a fence installed around his farm, so he wants to make sure he chooses the right kind. I'll pass this information along to him once he hires a fencing contractor for his farm. 5/6/2023 12:55:46 am
I totally agree when you said that our kids and pets will be safe at home if we have fences around the property. I will get a dog this year here in Seattle, Washington, and it is my first time owning a pet. So I want to be a responsible pet owner by keeping it safe when I take it outside my backyard, and it will be for the safety of my neighbors as well if it will not be able to escape and go to their places. 9/14/2023 05:23:50 am
Your dedication to educating and inspiring garden enthusiasts like me is truly commendable. The way you break down complex topics into easily digestible pieces of knowledge makes learning about gardening a delightful experience. Comments are closed.
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