Branches should be 4 to 6 feet long, or long enough to span at least three posts. Young one-to-two-foot-high privet plants often can be purchased for just $4 apiece and grow very quickly, typically adding two to three feet of height per year. There are several colors available, and it grows quickly. But if you’re willing to wait a few years for privacy, small, young trees can cost $15 apiece. Build up to the living fence with plants of increasing height. A living fence is a type of fence made of living plants or trees. Living fences can be less expensive, too—installing a wood privacy fence is likely to cost $20 to $30 per linear foot. Although Boxwood does grow very slowly, once it matures, it forms a great natural barrier in your front or back yard. We also need space either side of the fence to allow us to install the weavers. Holly’s berries typically are red, while pyracantha, also known as firethorn, feature a blaze of red, orange or yellow berries. Thank you for sharing these cool ideas! How To Make Hazel Garden Structures These trees are also extremely supple, so you can shape them to form the living fence of your dreams! And while many communities have rules restricting the construction of tall fences, restrictions governing the planting of trees and shrubs are rare. It is easy and fun to create willow hedges, bowers, dens, arbours and walkways. Have barbed wire now and do not like to see it in my photos. This shrub has small fruits that attract birds, so it’s the ideal of living fence ideas for the bird watchers out there. Cactus is like a natural form of barbed wire. Enkianthus features clumps of little hanging flowers that typically are white, and it needs little to no trimming to stay in shape. Are you considering trees or shrubs as a living fence on your property? Living fences can be less expensive, too—installing a wood privacy fence is likely to cost $20 to $30 per linear foot. Bamboo: Bamboo can also be used for woven fencing panels. But slow-growing plants require ­infrequent pruning, done best in late winter or early spring. Video below on how to cleft a sapling. Prune once a year after the tiny flowers bloom in spring for a more informal hedge and again before late summer if you want a tighter, more formal look. Willow rods are pushed into the ground at an angle. Young, small yew plants might sell for as little as $10 apiece, but you can easily spend $50 or more for more mature, larger plants. From the time man started cultivating his own food, fences have been used to keep out animals, separate different crops, and mark off private property. Not only does Lilac smell terrific, but it is a great plant to fence with. Plant the tall shrubs and trees listed here along the edge of the property, but also ­position shorter plants just to the inside of those tall plants. Pyracantha and holly are evergreen shrubs that provide more color than the typical privacy hedge. They also are less effective than traditional fences at keeping pets within the yard and other animals out. A living fence is a permanent hedge tight enough and tough enough to serve almost any of the functions of a manufactured fence, but it offers agricultural and biological services a manufactured fence cannot. The best wood for this is flexible branches, such as willow and hazel. Living fences can cost as little as $1 per linear foot. Filed Under: Landscaping, Outdoor Living, Outdoor DIY Tagged With: DIY, fence, gardening, living fence, privacy. It is one of the fastest growing plants out there, and is super low maintenance. Privets are one of the most dense plants, which creates privacy that an ordinary fence cannot match. Woven hazel fences are fun and simple to make and are a strong, attractive alternative to mass-produced softwood fencing (boo)! For the more adventurous, wigwams, chairs and sofas would be challenging projects. Mention of any brand name products does not imply endorsement. People don’t normally think of willows as perimeter plants, but many varieties produce thick, drooping foliage that can form an effective living fence. Above: As seen in the garden of Isis Sturtewagen, even snug urban gardens can acquire a romantic feel with willow edging and baskets. The color of materials can also vary in different areas. The Many Benefits of Living Fences. To order rods and instructions for a Harlequin Fedge click here: DIY STRUCTURES. Willow’s foliage can have a silver, gold or lime green tint depending on the variety, but different varieties grow to different heights, so choose carefully. Hicksii Yew is another plant like the Juniper. For patients who need assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, periodic assessment and treatment by a professional staff, Prestige offers quality care with a personal touch. They grow berries and have a delicious scent. They produce beautiful berries in the fall and winter, plus white flowers in the spring and early summer. One place I plan my hedge/fence is also windbreak. If the straight edges of a traditional border hedge strike you as too formal or artificial, selecting a shaggy plant such as willow is not your only option. Position one plant every 18 to 30 inches to form a hedge. These planted perimeters look beautiful and can convey a feeling of peace. lay in a starting sequence of small round rods in such a way that there are no loose ends hanging out. To plant a fedge read how on the following web page from an English willow … The following plants can make wonderful living fences. For problems with pests and critters, a cactus fence may be perfect. A fedge is a living fence. She is author of Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love and creator of the Home Outside Palette landscape design app for iOS and Android. Incorporate more than one type of plant into your privacy hedge. You can learn how to layout your garden for a better yield, use a variety of natural pest controls, the “ins and outs” of organic gardening, and much more. The panels are strong and durable so form an excellent fence as well. My mission with beesandroses.com is to help you find useful, practical solutions to all of your gardening challenges--and help you love it as much as I do. Gardening ideas. It’s a good choice only in locations where it will not be able to spread, such as between two paved driveways or in a raised planter. It also can be expensive—potentially $30 or more per plant. Some varieties can grow to 50 feet or more. Her projects include the design of the Toronto Music Garden as well as many public and residential gardens across North America and beyond. Your submission has been received! Choosing a living fence over a conventional fence can be an excellent option. Just be careful to choose your variety carefully–some are quite invasive. Oops! And most varieties of privet are “deciduous”—that is, they lose their leaves in the winter—so a privet hedge might not provide full privacy year-round. Bottom Line, Inc. publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields These opinions are for educational and illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as either individual advice or as a substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services intended to suit your specific personal needs. Using a variety of different plants will make your living fence appear more natural. Living fences offer an alternative to traditional structures that provide privacy. Evergreen trees are one of the best trees for a living fence. Space yews one to two feet apart to form an effective privacy hedge. The tops are tied to a horizontal, weaved in withy to give stability along the top. The running form may look more ­attractive but is very difficult to ­contain. Each will age with time and weathering. I watched the videos of the English hedge system using hazel. Holly bushes produce pretty berries and thrive in any climate zone, including the tropics. That might sound pricey, but you can plant willows five feet apart in a living fence, so you won’t need as many of them to form a fence as you would many plants on this list. The 1.8m (6') Hazel Hurdle require skilled craftsmanship to make, with strong fibres twisted around sturdy hazel rods. Enkianthus is deciduous, so do not expect full privacy in winter. Here is a tutorial to help you avoid dead spots in your Juniper fence. This is another plant belonging to the Evergreen family. Believe it or not, a living fence has the potential to provide more privacy than a regular fence! Gardening ideas For Beginners. You also could…. For starters, the fullness of the trees provides great privacy. Living willow. You can prune border plants into more natural-­seeming “mountain like” shapes that are thicker near their bases, for ­example. This shrub is famous for its green needles. It is important to remember that the needles may turn brown with a lot of exposure to cold winter winds. Confirm that the variety you select will grow to the desired height—some varieties of privet grow to only four feet, while others reach eight, 10 or beyond if not kept pruned. Indeed, deer might nibble windows into a living fence, though this can be overcome through smart plant selection. So get weaving. We supply cut price Willow Rods (sometimes referred to as Willow Whips, Withies, Stems or Sticks), Willow Cuttings, and a range of Living Willow kits including structures such as Domes, Wigwams, Arbours, Fences/Hedges (or Fedges), Tunnels. Something went wrong while submitting the form. **Posts may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Living Willow Structures Arch Work learn how to make beautiful hazel structures for your garden making a rose arch from hazel rods you work learn how to make beautiful hazel structures for your garden 7 diy plant supports your roses climbers and vegetables need this. Young willow trees might sell for $30 to $60 apiece. ... A fedge is a cross between a fence and a hedge. Maybe one day they’ll become common in British gardens again giving a contemporary, valuable use for hazel coppice. Always consult a competent professional for answers specific to your questions and circumstances. Believe it or not, bamboo makes a beautiful living fence. This video details setting up and using an electric fence while camping in bear country. Willow (Salix) is one of nature's colourful and adaptable building materials. But wear thick gloves while pruning them—some hollies have pointed leaves, and pyracantha has sharp thorns. Prices vary depending on plant size and variety, but expect to pay perhaps $20 to $30 for a young plant in a 2.25-gallon container. A living fence brings forth thoughts of fantasy landscapes, eco-conscious livelihood, and is simply awesome to look at once they're in place and mature. Enter living fences. Unfortunately, Juniper develops dead spots if it is over-pruned.