On the fence about...fences

I'd bet just about all of us has heard the sage advice in Robert Frost's poem, Mending Wall: Good fences make good neighbors. There is a deep truth to the simple phrase, which speaks to each of us about issues of privacy, and proprietary concerns.

What his famous writing doesn't address is what those "good fences" are supposed to look like. How many neighbors have lamented the sorry appearance of a worn-out wall or been bedeviled by a fortress-like fence that looks better suited to a classic castle than a center-hall colonial? If good fences do, indeed, make good neighbors, then what can good neighbors do to ensure they're erecting the kind of fences the surrounding community can live with?

I think this question can be best answered if we think about how form affects function...or, what function we desire in a fence, so we can then create something aesthetically pleasing. Here, some of the main purposes of fences:

1. To keep something in (like a pet)
2. To keep something out (like wildlife predisposed to harming a pet)
3. To enrich the decorative aspects of a property
4. To keep prying eyes (and other body parts) from partaking of personal space
5. To comply with municipal laws (like fencing around a pool)
6. To comply with municipal laws and unwritten rules of common decency (to keep aforementioned body parts from partaking of the personal space in your pool)

Safety first: keeping wanted pets and kids (presumably they are ALL wanted) gated in while ensuring unwelcome wildlife stays out, one could opt for a 6-foot-high chain-link fence. But since most neighborhoods discourage residential spaces that look like the movie set of Alcatraz, it's wiser to look elsewhere for inspiration. Here, the wide variety of materials available:

The trend has been to go the more eco-friendly route these days and salvaged materials will often fill the bill. The greenest choice, they are usually inexpensive or even free. They are best for quirky, arty fence projects, but it can be difficult to find the right used materials in the quantity needed, and may require substantial elbow grease to make materials usable, such as wire brushing and painting old wrought iron.

Wood, especially sustainably harvested lumber, can be a relatively inexpensive choice that adds natural beauty to properties. It does has a shelf life, though. Wood can discolor or rot fairly quickly without regular treatments with potentially toxic stains, paints or sealants. Even with the protection, wood will need replacing quicker than other materials. But by choosing lumber with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, eventual fence replacement doesn't have to add to the depletion of natural resources.

Metal products offer a variety of choices to homeowners: from lightweight, low-maintenance aluminum to durable, elegant-looking wrought iron. And the metal is usually recyclable and reusable. It's a more expensive choice, and needs painting or chemical treatment to avoid rust and flaking, but is increasingly popular with those looking for maintenance-free fencing.

Stone and brick walls as fences are sturdy choices and will stand the test of time. Although erecting them is heavy, time-consuming work that's hard on the back, the job only has to be done once. An since there's an abundance of salvaged brick and stone out there, its can be an eco-friendly choice.

Plastic and plastic composite fences require little maintenance, and often contain recycled plastic. Newer products including composites (plastic mixed with other materials, such as wood), are generally more durable than past plastic-fencing products, but it can get pricey.


Bamboo is an increasingly viable choice. Elegant and natural looking, it can be grown and harvested with fence construction in mind. It's also incredibly lightweight which bodes well for decorative fencing, but may not be sturdy enough for heavily used areas. And, like wood, it may discolor or deteriorate after a few years. Also, bamboo-fence making is an art form, so read several books or articles before you even start your project. Or hire someone who knows how to do it right.

My idea of the best property border is the living fence. Using plants or trees for screening is the most eco-friendly, attractive, cost-effective solution. And hedges often change color with the seasons, so this choice offers the most variety. Like all plants, hedging takes a few years to fill in, but there are hedge choices that will grown within a season or two (like forsythia). Putting plants closer than usual when designing the hedge will yield a tighter, fence-like effect, too.

As for height, check first with your municipality. Some areas have restrictions on how high a fence may be; others require a certain height for specific situations (like fencing around a pool).

When all is said and done, and every fence option is explored, you may be like me, and decide that you're no longer "on the fence" about this topic. I've decided that at this juncture, no border action is required for me, so: "don't fence me in." I'm keeping my space wide open.