- 1). Walk around your garden and look at the land surrounding the garden. If your neighbors are immediately adjacent or your garden looks out onto an ugly view such as a parking lot or shopping center, a higher fence is a wiser choice. If you simply value your privacy, a higher fence is better. Select a lower fence if you want to be able to see the surrounding landscape or your neighbors.
- 2). Examine the material and style of your house and select a fence that matches and complements that style. For example, if you have a traditional wood house, a steel or PVC fence looks out of place.
- 3). Write down how often you are able and willing to perform cleaning and maintenance on the fence. For example, wood and metal fences require cleaning from time to time, as well as oiling, conditioning and applications of protective coats to shield them from the elements. These types of fences aren't ideal for someone with an incredibly busy lifestyle. A busier person should opt for a low-maintenance fence, such as a vinyl one, which would require some light hosing now and then.
- 4). Write down how much you can spend on the fence of your dreams. For example, a stone or wrought-iron fence is more expensive than a vinyl fence. Keep the bigger picture in mind. While a wood fence might be cheaper than a vinyl fence, over time, a wood fence costs more in maintenance than a vinyl fence.
- 5). Write down the types of garden pests that are problematic in your neighborhood. Select a type of fence that protects your plants from such creatures. For example, if deer are a problem, you need a fence at least 7 feet high so deer can't jump over it. A plastic mesh fence or two exterior fences 3 feet apart fool deer's poor depth perception. To ward off animals such as skunks, gophers, groundhogs and rabbits, install some poultry netting from the base of the fence down, buried into the earth. According to the University of California, "adding a single electrified strand of wire 8 inches above the ground and about 8 inches out from the base of the fence" keeps racoons out when added to any type of fence.
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