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With a little bit of creativity, you can create a garden fence that is far different from any in your neighborhood. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Not every American family dreams of having a home in the suburbs, encompassed by a white picket fence. In fact, many Americans are opting to have fences that are as far from their white picket cousins as possible. If you, like these other Americans, are interested in having a fun and unique fence and/or garden gate, then check out these suggestions. They are anything but ordinary. Fences• Bed headboards – picture metal headboards and footboards: they kind of look like fences already, right? Why not line your landscape with some? A variety can make a very interesting and useful fence. Each can stand on its own, or you can take some wire and bind them together. Bury the posts into the ground and surround base with rocks for an easy set-up. Once you are sure you like the look, you can cement the posts into the ground • Skis – skis (downhill, cross-country, water, etc.) all make excellent pickets. Go to ski swaps, thrift stores, and your own back garage to gather up as many skis as possible. Depending on how many skis you can gather, you may choose to use them intermittently with wood pickets. For a shorter fence, cut them in half. For a uniform fence, paint them all a single color. • Twigs and branches – you can fill the space between strong posts with twigs. If straight up and down vertical lines are too boring for you, crisscross your twigs and branches in whatever directions you choose. Have some teetering high over the fence and some short. The natural look that twigs can offer is very becoming in a garden. The key, though, is to create a haphazard look without haphazard building – make sure that the fence is held sturdy by strong posts and that each twig is connected well. Connect the twigs with twine, wiring, and/or nails. • Willow or bamboo – Willow and/or bamboo can be used to make beautiful screens for your garden, giving you privacy and security. Simply nail a bamboo mat between two posts. • Bike wheels – perhaps you have seen fences that incorporate wagon wheels. Well, why not use bike wheels? If you prefer a metal boundary over a wood one, bike wheels can be an excellent choice. You can connect each wheel between two sturdy metal posts by welding them or with wire. Or, to create a simple boundary, you can place each wheel side by side, half buried in the ground. • Window frames – before you set up window frames around your garden, it is a good idea to take out the glass (for safety measures), but it is not necessary. If you keep the glass in, consider creating your own stained glass by painting it with transparent paint available at a craft store. Gates -- plant posts into the ground two feet deep (for added security, use cement). Use a spreader overhead between the two posts and thereby make them even more stable. Space them one wagon weel or sign or whatever apart, but with a few extra inches to make room for the hinges and latch. Hinges and latches can be bought at any hardware store. For odd-shaped items, like a wagon wheel, you may choose to place them in the wooden frame of a gate for extra stability. Heavier items will also need more stability. • Wagon wheel • Old front door or screen door • Car door • Swinging bar doors • Old sign Dressing up a current fence• Paint it – paint a mural on a wall or wooden fence. Or paint staggered posts in brilliant colors – skip the basic white! • Scarves – tie scarves to your chain link fence. Weave fabric in and out of the holes. You can even create a sort of mural or picture by weaving different colors of fabric in and out. This is a temporary look, though, because most fabrics will fade and/or become dirty after a season. • Hats or birdhouses – top fence posts with straw hats or birdhouses. • Willow – weave willow in and out of a chain link fence. Not only will you end up with an interesting, natural look, you will also gain more privacy. • Crystals – you can really dress up a garden by hanging crystals (like the ones you find on a chandelier) from various places on your fence. The effects of sunlight shining through them can be amazing. The key to creating a personalized and interesting garden fence for your own yard is to look at seemingly ordinary objects in a way that you never have before. Why can’t you top fence posts with planters? Why can’t you use railway tracks for fence posts? The answer is: you can. With a little bit of creativity, some great tools, and a lot of patience, you can create a wonderful garden fence that no one would ever dare to label as a “white picket fence.” The ideas offered in this article are only a starting point. To get more ideas, look around your house, go to a thrift store or hardware store, or even make a trip out to the dump!
The copyright of the article Unique Garden Fences in Landscaping is owned by Anne Clarke. Permission to republish Unique Garden Fences in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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