Boundaries: how to finish off
your personal space
Most gardens need some sort of boundary to set it apart a soft stone and crumbles
from neighbouring land. easily. But if it is built
If you want to create a boundary quickly you will have to
well, a red sandstone wall
put up a fence or a wall, as hedges are best planted as young
will last many decades,
‘whips’ which can take a few years to grow and fill out.
with only occasional
Panel fencing will do the job and can be completed within a
repointing. Often the top
day or two, depending on the length of the fence. Wrought iron
of the wall is finished
fencing is another option, chosen for its looks rather than privacy,
with a coping of cut
perhaps best when used for front gardens open to the road.
paving stones or bricks.
In a country area a traditional post and rail stock-proof fence
Reconstituted stone is
would look attractive and could be adequate if you plant
composed of crushed
shrubs or a hedge behind it, on the garden side. rock and cement, and
Willow panels look good in a country setting, and this
is laid like bricks with
consideration may help to offset the higher price tag than
mortar joints.
softwood wooden fence panels in overlapping wood or Brick walls can be of a variety of thicknesses and colours,
vertical planks, and painted or treated with preservative.
according to the colour of the local stone. Where greater
A picket fence is an option where the boundary just has to be
strength is needed an engineering brick is used, usually
defined but does not need to be extremely sturdy. It would darker because it has been subjected to greater firing.
not give privacy but plants grown against it would look very
Often bricks are only used for facing, for finishing off a wall.
attractive, particularly by a cottage, and painted or left natural.
The outer sides of bricks may be smooth or they can be cut
A wall will obviously look more substantial. Concrete is the like cheese for a rougher textured effect.
cheapest material to choose. If it is rendered and painted
Whatever you decide on, this is not a DIY job for an amateur.
then capped with bricks or stone, it can look almost as good
Walls particularly, if poorly built, are a danger to people and
as the real thing, but it may not be in keeping with your
animals. If it fronts on to a path or pavement you may find
property if you live in a rural area.
that you’re liable for a claim if someone is injured as a result
The local stone would be appropriate – but the costs of the
of a collapse.
materials, carting to the site and the labour involved will be
high. Traditionally many stone walls were laid dry, without
You must seek professional guidance on the depth of the
mortar, the stones fitting together like bricks. Limestone is the
footings suitable for the location and the type of soil. You
best known material used in this way, but would look out of
should also seek advice on the appropriate method of
place in an area where the local stone is quite different – red
construction.
sandstone, for instance. Whatever type of boundary you decide on, make sure that
Red sandstone must have mortar to bind it together, as it is
it fits in with your property and the surrounding area.
AJM GARDENDESIGN
s,OOKINGFORTHATHONESTAPPROACHWEWORKWITH
YOUTOCREATETHEGARDENYOUWANT
s#OMPLETEGARDENORINDIVIDUALBORDERDESIGN
PLANS
s&ULLLANDSCAPINGSERVICETOTHEHIGHEST
STANDARDSPROJECTMANAGED
PLANTING
s0ROFESSIONALPRUNINGANDPLANTINGSERVICEWITH
CONSTRUCTION
TWELVEMONTHSGUARANTEEONALLSTOCKPLANTED
s'ARDENMAINTENANCEONAREGULARORONE
OFFBASIS
Mark Robertson
M.Hort (RHS)
s(ORTICULTURALCONSULTANCYBUILTONYEARSMember of the Institute of Horticulture
COMMERCIALNURSERYGROWINGEXPERIENCE
71, Wardrew Road, Exeter Devon EX4 1HA
Tel: (07770) 621329
Tel: 01392 439138
Mob: 07971 944959
Greenmanfence…if you are really
Email: ajmgardendesign@aol.com
looking to be creative it seems there’s
www.exetergardendesign.com
no limit to what’s possible!
36
Country Gardener
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