This is interesting. First, I find out my neighbors LOVE the English ivy that’s been hiding my chain-link fence since the mid-80s, and they’re really surprised that I don’t. Okay, so they have no idea how much work it is just to keep it from covering the sidewalk in one direction and the mixed borders on the other. And I guess I can imagine thinking that English ivy is pretty, though I sure don’t. You can tell from this photo, though, that I’ve been chopping the ivy off at its base, killing it as fast as possible, and there’s no turning back now. (Also, see that bent fence post? Yep, that’s my driving! Fortunately hidden by that ivy all these years.)
But then when it became clear that the chain-link fence was going, going, gone, everyone on the street let me know they’d prefer that I have no fence at all, that I leave it open so they can see my garden.
Now there was once a time when fences – especially the chain-link variety – were commonplace on my street – in fact, all over town. But that was before gentrification, and these days all those tacky fences are gone – except mine and one other, an ugly white vinyl. But look how exposed my little front-yard garden looks in the next photo, with no fence to keep the dogs away. Yep, dogs are the number one reason I’m paying good money for another fence (a good-looking cedar one). No matter that dogs are always on a leash in my ‘hood. The dog-walkers pay no attention while their beloved digs in and craps on gardens along the walk, including my curbside garden full of super-tough plants. Yes, I notice. I remember.
But you know what else a fence does? It creates a space. Enclosure is a big deal in garden-making! Not that I want a tall or solid fence. It’ll be 4 feet tall but much more see-through than the damn ivy was. Real neighborly-like.
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Put up the fence! I had my neighbors petition against my privacy fence in the backyard, but I didn’t let that stop me. It does define the space and also creates a nice backdrop for plantings.
Fence it! I work at home, and my office window looks out on the front yard, where I hourly see dog owners stop in front of my house and admire my native plant garden while their furry companion takes a dump. And then, they walk on, leaving said dump for me to deal with. Not cool. Short of carnivorous cactus, a fence is the only solution.
I can go either way with front yard fences. It’s generous to let people see your garden and a well-conceived fence can do that and keep dogs out. The white picket fence is classic for a reason.
I also think it must be nice to have a tall hedge or wall that totally encloses the house and creates a mystery. Everyone likes a mystery. Those kinds of visual barriers also make the street feel more private which can be nice for a quiet walk, imo.
(I cannot imagine life without a backyard fence. Living all open and exposed like that with no privacy…well, a big NO THANK YOU to that. Carol’s neighborhood association is insane and I wish her continued success against their evil machinations.)
That’s funny that you drove into your fence post. I actually crashed into my *house* backing out of the garage recently. Embarrassing!
A front-yard fence will make your front garden feel twice as big, Susan. Go for it! It sounds like a neighborly fence that will give you some privacy and still let the neighbors peek over as they stroll by to see how great your garden looks.
It looks like the fence needs replacing, why should you not replsce it?
I had a 3ft tall fence between me and my neighbour in my garden, when it needed replacing my next door neighbour erected a 6ft fence in its place.
This effected our relationship, luckily they moved house.
I’m am in favor of fences. I live out in the country and no one walks past my house. No one even drives past my house unless they have taken a wrong turn. The ramshackle fence I do have around part of the vegetable garden is just to deter the deer.
Good fences, great neighbors and all that. If you have no front fence, people will wander in. We’re not allowed to have fences within 18′ of the street or something like that, so our fence is 18′ back. People wander all over my grass, right up to the fence. Strangers, not neighbors! We don’t live communally in caves anymore. Put up an attractive fence, and tell people if they want to see your garden, they can make an appointment.
Excellent points, ya’ll – from gardeners, I notice. Or if they want to see my garden, look over the 4-foot fence – not a biggie, right? Also I didn’t mention that because of the drop-off you see in the top photo, left, which gets steeper going down the driveway, I have to fence or wall at least one side for safety reasons. So does my neighbor, who’ll be sharing the cost of the fence with me coz it’s partially for her.
And can I just say – 6′ fences around the front yard DO make a statement, and I’m not sure I’d want one of those on my street. Reminds me of walking around the wealthy town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where my sister lives (relatively wealthy, but at least there ARE lots of million-dollar homes there). You can’t seeanything of the gorgeous homes and courtyard gardens, and what a shame.
When I was a kid a neighbor put in a barberry hedge to keep the kids out. It worked. But now I hate barberry.
Fence away – Our yard is fenced on two sides and across the front with numerous plantings – My gardens are a certified wildlife habitat and believe it or not the fence acts as support for many vines and taller perennials. I have privacy and my gardens have support and the fence offers structure throughout my plantings. The birds use it as a resting place after bathing in my pond. I had the only fence in my neighborhood and now there are several others – just needed to break the ice!!!
Good fences make good neighbors – absolutely true in my experience. Fence away!
I also live in a neighborhood with an insane neighborhood association. It opposes sidewalks and forbids front yard fences, on the theory that these would destroy the “park-like quality” of the community. My front yard is the only part of my yard that receives any sun so I grow my vegetables and sun-loving flowers there. Like other commenters, I’ve come to see that the space needs a fence to define it, to protect against deer, and to give me a sense of seclusion. A simple homemade wire lattice strung between posts and covered with climbing roses and vines would do the trick and still connect me to the neighborhood, but I can’t do that. My solution? Because the front yard slopes down to the street and retaining walls are allowed, I am hauling in multiple cubic yards of soil and building a high retaining wall with thick, tall hedge on top to hide a deer fence on the inside invisible from the street. What a lot of expense and work to get around a dumb rule, especially when the result will be less “park-like” than the fence I crave!
I agree good fences does make goos neighbours, you all need your own space!
A fence doesn’t make you unneighborly at all. That said, I really like hedges.
Here in Falls Church, we live on a corner and were able to define our yard by putting in a mixed hedge. I like the definition that it gives the front yard. And, it does make it seem larger.
I also agree, fence! I love the definition of space and it leaves that element of “discovery” when entering a garden. (Not to mention keeps out the presents dogs leave when the are walked by.)
Hi Susan,
Our HOA says no front fences and no hedges so although I’ve gradually added shrub beds and flower borders up there, my heart isn’t in it. My reasons are yours, Susan – stupid people who let their dogs & cats crap anywhere and watch indulgently as they dig & sit on plants. Since more than half of the square feet of my lot are in front of the privacy fence, it feels as if my property is not my own.
In Illinois we had a 3-foot tall wooden fence around the front garden, with roses and clematis trailing along the timbers and many people stopped to chat when I was out there. I wish that were possible here! May you rebuild your fence and reclaim your garden!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose