Monday, May 27, 2013

Building a Garden Fence, Part 1



If you told me a few years ago I'd be building rustic fencing and growing tomatoes I'd call you loco, but here we are. Last week we planted a small raised bed veggie garden, and our pup Fern promptly dug up the lettuce bed and ate a brussel sprout plant. We knew we needed to get a fence up ASAP, so on Friday we picked up 35 cedar posts from a guy on Craigslist, loaded them in the car, and hauled them home (please excuse my fuzzy iPhone photos).







Next we selected and cut a few small trees from our back woods to use for the fence rails.



And then we set to work measuring our plot and digging holes for the posts with a hole digger.

We used a sledgehammer to pound the cedar posts into the ground, and before long our fence was starting to take shape.







On Sunday the rails went up. We pre drilled the posts and beams, then used 5/16 x 5 construction lag screws that have a bronze ceramic coat to screw our rails into the cedar posts. Not everything is centered perfectly or exactly level, but we are telling ourselves that's fine because this is a "rustic" fence.




Here's where we're at right now.


In time the bark will peel off and the whole thing will turn grey as old wood does. It's not a professional  fence, but it looks right at home next to our barn. I was surprised to find that it already looks like it has been there forever.

This week we will attach rabbit wire to the back of the fence frame to keep the critters out. Once that's up we plan to add a gate and a small entryway arc. Eventually we will add more branches between the rails for reinforcement. Josh will also add two more raised beds to the left of the existing three for a total of five.

Our garden doesn't look like much now as our plants are still young and small, but I hope one day it will resemble the garden below. Isn't this the most beautiful spot?

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll be sharing photos of a finished fence and flourishing plants very soon :)


22 comments :

  1. We did a garden remodel with a raised vegetable garden this spring, as well. Your fence is looking just perfect and I adore your inspiration photo. Can't wait to see your finished fence with the arch and gate!

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  2. Thanks Kathy! I hope our finished product doesn't disappoint. Good luck with your garden!

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  3. The fence looks gorgeous! I love the rustic look. ^_~ Can't wait to see the next batch of photos.

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  4. Oh that I be that much younger to begin again. Claire, you and your husband make me envious of a life that I wished I'd had. It's lovely to follow you along your journey. You make me smile and the bounty from your garden will make all your efforts worthwhile. Bravo!

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  5. Love the rustic fence .. and so happy to see that I'm not the only one with fuzzy iPhone photos. A friend once asked me, "are you in Beijing?" because a photo was so fuzzy. =)

    I was already missing gardening (temporarily apartment living) but this makes me miss it more. You'll be amazed at how big everything gets and at how much bounty it produces.

    Hope you enjoy it. Love seeing the pics!

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  6. Oh this is just too neat, Claire!

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  8. I found a great website if you are looking for more ideas: http://www.archiexpo.com/architecture-design-manufacturer/garden-fence-227.html

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  9. Maybe I'll see if I can get some more DS Quilts fabric next time I have a JoAnn's coupon. Fencing Wholesalers

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  10. Late to this conversation, but how did you attach the rails to the fence posts? I see the lag screws, and the predrilling, but how did you connect them to the posts? Maybe obvious, and I'm just missing it....

    It looks amazing, by the way! How has it held up?

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  11. One day, heaven forfend (‘Angels and ministers of grace, defend us...’), no doubt he will play Hamlet and I will not be there to see it. Fencing Contractors

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  12. And of course he couldn't resist a quick ham session! We played peek-a-boo with the fence and then he wore it as a bracelet.
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  13. Earlier people said it would take around 52K to get the fencing done but it came around 1.25 Lacs to get it done. Almost triple from the budget.
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  17. Our nursery is a little spot in the side yard that is totally clouded from the carport and the entryway patio by huge shrubs and trees. There is a close by way to the forested areas and a carport nearby to our neighbors out building and it as a rule isn't utilized for quite a bit of anything… .so we chose with the full sun and the generally level ground – it would be ideal for our nursery. You can visit here for more fence posts.

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  18. We assembled four raised nursery beds and we had taken out the grass and did some forceful grass hindering… .and now it was the ideal opportunity for a fence. We required the fence since we have a huge load of deer and bunnies that adoration eating their way through the area. After some examination, we chose a wood fence about 4′ tall would be the correct decision… .the deer presumably will not hop that and it would be more viable at keeping the bunnies out. Any taller and it would project a large enough shadow to conceal the nursery beds. But if you don't have a time to do this, have a fence service. We offer free quote before we proceed.

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  19. Who would've thought I'd be building rustic fences and tending to tomatoes? Last week, after our pup Fern turned our lettuce bed into a snack, we knew it was time to protect our garden. Armed with cedar posts from Craigslist, we got to work. With a DIY approach, we measured, dug, and hammered until our fence took shape. Now, with the rails up and construction lag screws in place, our rustic masterpiece is starting to blend in perfectly with our barn. Next up? Adding rabbit wire for critter protection and dreaming of artificial green walls to complete our outdoor haven. Stay tuned for flourishing plants and finished fences!

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  20. Excited to read Part 1 of your garden fence series! Can't wait to learn about design, materials, and how to keep those pesky critters out.High Quality Fence.

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  21. Excited to follow this series on building a garden fence! Hoping for tips on design, materials, and how to keep those pesky critters out.High Quality Fence.

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