Fences are to landscapes as dental plans are to general health insurance in the United States—crucial to the integrity of the whole but treated like a stand-alone issue until something starts to decay. And yet few things can detract from a beautiful landscape like a poor fence choice. Think generic contractor special that doesn’t match the architecture of a house, or an unstained fence that visually dominates a landscape due to its light color or rotting wood.
Learn more: A Gorgeous Garden Design to Border a Fence
So what kind of fence might be worthy of your garden? Let’s start with the basics:
What’s it for?
Before we unleash our creativity, we need to know our requirements. Simply put, the purpose of the fence will drive our design choices. Here’s a quick decision tree to narrow down the options:
Once we understand the limiting factors, we’re ready to design. Let’s look at some great options.
1. Plant a living fence, a.k.a. a hedge
Often called a green, bio, or living fence, plant material provides the requisite structure for this border, with the added benefit of creating a wildlife habitat in the process. The most common style is a uniform wall of a single species—a classic option, though the consequences of dieback are higher with a monoculture, potentially leaving you with a hole in your fence. However, you could perhaps seize the opportunity to add a fun door!
But we’re talking about unique fences, so why not go bolder with a mixed planting? Consider the stellar Pool House Hedge from Stoneleigh Gardens. Emerald Green arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis Smaragd’, Zones 3–7) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Fastigiata’, Zones 4–9) intermingle, while a single bright ‘Yellow Ribbon’ arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Yellow Ribbon’, Zones 3–7) jumps out for attention.
Ethan Kaufman, director of Stoneleigh, emphasizes their embrace of deliberate asymmetry throughout the property, which contributes to the dynamic, colorful, and textured biodiversity. If you’re not confident in your ability to mix and match this way, you could use a more regular pattern of 2–3 species, but this looks awfully fun to try.
Maybe you love this idea and want to take it even further—the “Wildlife Hedge” at Stoneleigh has over 60 types of woody plants. I asked Ethan if he thought the average home gardener could manage such a planting, and he assured me that anyone who can shear a skip laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’, Zones 5–9) hedge can do the same with something more diverse. But take note of the implied maintenance requirements; this option needs regular attention.
Tip: Unless you’re working with small shrubs, planting 4 feet on center is a good rule of thumb.
2. Play with the components
The vertical and horizontal components of a fence (posts, boards, rails) give us many opportunities to do something unexpected. Consider the example below, where stone pillars replace simple posts, and solid horizontal boards create privacy and a warm, organic contrast to the stone. The visual weight of this composition creates a bold entrance, clearly defining public and private space. The column theme could be carried throughout the property or be used as punctuation at important points like corners and gates.
In stark contrast, consider the light confection of a fence from Lynley Ogilvie Landscape Design. The low height and open design suggest enclosure while still inviting us to view the home and garden. The circular medallions soften the angles of the crossed elements, and the bent top rail adds a soft curvature to the whole. Painting the fence to match the existing pergola along the house ties the elements together—not identical, but cohesive.
Tip: Not sure where to start customizing your elements? Look for cues in the house architecture (a stone or brick foundation, for example), or around the property to tie your material choices into the greater landscape.
3. Paint your existing wood fence
These are fun ideas, but what if you already have a perfectly serviceable wood fence that you’re not ready or able to replace? An unstained, wooden fence tends to be neutral at best, and often a distraction (bright new wood or decaying old wood). In contrast, even the simplest style is elevated when painted or stained. Consider waving your magic paint brush to transform your pedestrian fence into an elegant backdrop.
If the thought of choosing a stain causes instant anxiety (so many paint chips to agonize over at 3 a.m.), let me help you—choose black. This might feel like a bold choice, but a black fence most often recedes into the background, providing a subtle surround and the perfect foil for greenery. Whatever you do, avoid colors with the word “cedar” in them unless you really, really like orange.
Tip: Unsure of the difference between stain and paint? Stain is designed to penetrate the wood, whereas paint generally sits on the surface. I use a solid or semi-solid stain when possible.
Bottom line: have fun!
Depending where you live, you may have all sorts of fencing going on at once, and that’s okay, too. Use plants or design motifs to unify your space and celebrate that your garden is uniquely yours!
Find more fencing and privacy ideas:
And for more Mid-Atlantic regional reports, click here.
Maureen Robinson is president of the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).
Photos and illustration: courtesy of Maureen Robinson
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