Tom Luxsox Coins

Split Rail

Putting Up A Garden Fence

Fences are either open, to use as a trellis for roses or other plants, or they are closed to serve as a wind, sun or privacy screen.

The materials will depend largely upon the use to which the fence is to be put. The most popular, and probably the most attractive, fences are built of wood in various forms, but newer fences of asbestos-cement and corrugated sheet metal are colourful and stand up against rot better.

Because they are heavier, they are usually erected in a zigzag design, the better to stand up against prevailing winds.

The major problem in prolonging the life of a fence stems from rot at the ground line, for here it is susceptible to alternating wet and dry conditions.

Among the best woods for withstanding rot are California redwood and Southern cypress, white cedar and red cedar, chestnut, locust and arbor vitae. While painting the wood with preservatives often lengthens the life of your fence, this will do no good unless the preservatives penetrate.

That's why a post that has been machine-creosoted will resist rot, while a hand-creosoted post will not. However, if you use a good preservative on a clean, dry, unpainted wood, and give the wood two or three coats, you can do a good job.

Among the commercial wood preservatives you will find those of pentachlorophenol, copper napthenate (which has a green colour) and zinc napthenate, a clear solution.

In addition to the point where the post hits the ground, any place where two pieces are nailed together on a wooden fence is subject to rot. Therefore, it is wise to treat the wood where the members are joined before you put up the fence. This will preserve it much better than painting afterward.

Set your fence posts deep enough in the ground to resist the prevailing winds, at least 2 feet and even deeper. Set heavy posts in concrete. Tamp firmly in place so the fence will not wiggle. Hardware used should be galvanized.

Among the most popular types of fences are the traditional picket, the post-and-rail fence and the hurdle fence, but with increased stress on privacy screening, the louvered and lattice types are ever more popular.

The post-and-rail fence is made of posts spaced at 10 foot intervals with large slots cut in them. The 11-foot-long rails are tapered to flat ends, which are inserted in the posts. The hurdle fence has split rails built into a braced frame and nailed together, with the end pieces of each panel becoming the posts.

The picket fence, traditionally white, has posts spaced from 8 to 12 feet apart, rails 3x4 inches, and pickets 2 to 3 inches wide, pointed at the top.

The pickets should be 2 inches off the ground at the bottom and extend well above the top rail. The spindle fence is a kind of picket fence with round spindles that pass through holes in the rails.

There are many possible variations of board fences used for screening. A broad rail may be alternated with a narrow rail, or the boards may be applied vertically, like palings, with, perhaps, a staggering of the boards on either side of the rail. Boards may be slanted in a louver effect to give privacy while admitting air and sunlight.

A basket-weave fence can be constructed of thin, flexible boards and provides total screening and a handsome background for planting. It is somewhat difficult to build yourself, however.

About the Author

Want to find out about lawn problems and lawn grubs? Get tips from the Lawn Tips website.

Split Rail $44.98 Ray Hendershot Split Rail - Framed Art Print

Split Rail Fence, Pennsylvania $34.99 Tim Laman Split Rail Fence, Pennsylvania - Photographic Print

End Post of a Split Rail Fence $39.99 Todd Gipstein End Post of a Split Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Split Rail Coffee Table $895 The Split Rail Coffee Table is carefully manufactured in the USA by Modernica, building modern furniture, past and present with a consistently high standard of quality and craftsmanship.

Rustic Home with Solar Panels and a Split Rail Fence $24.99 Rustic Home with Solar Panels and a Split Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Split-Rail Fence in the Early Morning Mist $39.99 Richard Nowitz Split-Rail Fence in the Early Morning Mist - Photographic Print

Blue Split Rail Fence Each $49.99 The Blue Split Rail Fence is a great addition to your Wizard of Oz theme with the three posts and four rails. Each Blue Split Rail Fence measures 3 feet 10 inches high x 7 feet long and is printed on cardboard. Line your walkways, walls and dance floors with the Blue Split Rail Fence for a fun look.

Split Rail Fence Each $32.99 Western Stable Freestanding cardboard stable measures 10.5' high x 7.5' wide x 1' deep.  Easy Assembly. Split Rail Fence Light woodgrain cardboard fence comes in sections that measure 3' 10" h x 7' l.  Easy assembly. Western Cornstalks  Each 5 1/2" h x 3' cardboard cornstalk is freestanding.  Easy assembly. Not intended for outdoor use.

Split Rail End Table $595 The Split End Table is carefully manufactured in the USA by Modernica, building modern furniture, past and present with a consistently high standard of quality and craftsmanship.

Blooming Rhododendron Along a Trail with Split Rail Fence $39.99 Raymond Gehman Blooming Rhododendron Along a Trail with Split Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Snake Type Zigzag Split Rail Fence on Farm $24.99 H. Armstrong Roberts Snake Type Zigzag Split Rail Fence on Farm - Photographic Print

The Sun Shining on the Sharp Split Rail Fence $79.99 Nina Leen The Sun Shining on the Sharp Split Rail Fence - Premium Photographic Print

The Sawtooth Mountain Range is a Backdrop For a Split-Rail Fence $39.99 Michael Melford The Sawtooth Mountain Range is a Backdrop For a Split-Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Smiling Woman Sitting on a Split Rail Fence $24.99 H. Armstrong Roberts Smiling Woman Sitting on a Split Rail Fence - Photographic Print

The Sawtooth Mountain Range is a Backdrop for a Split-Rail Fence $39.99 Michael Melford The Sawtooth Mountain Range is a Backdrop for a Split-Rail Fence - Photographic Print

A Traditional Split-Rail Fence at the Farmers Museum $39.99 Stephen St. John A Traditional Split-Rail Fence at the Farmers Museum - Photographic Print

Split Rail Fence Dark Grain Each $49.99 This Rustic Split Rail Fence makes a welcome addition to any western themed event. Each printed cardboard Split Rail Fence Prop section measures 4 ft high x 7 ft long and includes EZ-Tabs for easy assembly.

Boy and Girl Standing on Split Rail Fence, Looking at Each Other $24.99 H. Armstrong Roberts Boy and Girl Standing on Split Rail Fence, Looking at Each Other - Photographic Print

Two Children Climbing Over Split Rail Fence, Rear View $24.99 H. Armstrong Roberts Two Children Climbing Over Split Rail Fence, Rear View - Photographic Print

Tall Weeds in Autumn Brown Along a Split-Rail Fence $39.99 Raymond Gehman Tall Weeds in Autumn Brown Along a Split-Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Two Children with a Puppy Sit on an Old Split Rail Fence $39.99 Richard Hewitt Stewart Two Children with a Puppy Sit on an Old Split Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Split Rail Fence and Farm Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA $29.99 Jerry & Marcy Monkman Split Rail Fence and Farm Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts, USA - Photographic Print

Heavy Fog Hangs Over Split Rail Fences in Early Morning $39.99 Stephen St. John Heavy Fog Hangs Over Split Rail Fences in Early Morning - Photographic Print

Dawn Mist Hangs over a Field Bordered by a Split-Rail Fence $39.99 Stephen St. John Dawn Mist Hangs over a Field Bordered by a Split-Rail Fence - Photographic Print

Split-Rail Fence Runs Through Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area $39.99 Split-Rail Fence Runs Through Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area - Photographic Print