Best Natural Fence Ideas

When you think of a fence, a six-foot-tall wooden structure is likely the first thing that comes to mind. But if you don’t want a component like that taking away from the beauty of your other landscaping elements, there are some natural fence ideas to consider – and we will explore those below. 

TLC would be happy to help you with your landscape design on your Jackson property. While there is a lot to love about using plants and shrubs as a fence, it’s not necessarily an easy one to implement on your own – some help from a professional team would go a long way toward great results. 

Start with a Vision

Since a natural fence is not as simple and straightforward as a standard fence, you are going to need to spend some time thinking about how this fence will look and what you want it to accomplish. Two common goals for the use of a fence are privacy and serving as a physical barrier. Ask yourself, are both of those important to you in this project, or is one more important than the other?

For example, some people will want to use a fence to keep pets from wandering off of their property. That can be accomplished with a natural fence as well – but not all types of natural fences are going to work well for that task (more on that later). With that said, if you don’t have pets and are only worried about creating some privacy rather than a solid physical barrier, your natural fence may look much different. There is no right or wrong here, but you do need to consider what you want this project to provide before you start. 

2 Distinct Natural Fence Ideas

Trees and shrubs are the two leading possibilities for creating a natural fence. Either way, you’ll want to choose an evergreen, so you can count on the fence staying in place throughout the year. Of course, shrubs will create a shorter fence than trees, but that fence should be fuller (making shrubs a great pick when you want a physical barrier, as discussed above). If you are looking for more height to achieve as much privacy as possible, trees will be your best bet. 

One great choice for a shrub that can be used to create a living fence is boxwood. It’s relatively easy to control this shrub and shape it as you wish for your fence, and there are hardy varieties that do well here in the Jackson climate. If you desire trees, consider the classic arborvitae. Even if you aren’t familiar with the name, you have certainly seen these trees in use before – they are narrow evergreens that grow quickly and can be pruned much like a hedge to control their shape and size. Depending on the type of arborvitae you select, it’s possible to get as much as 40’ of height from this tree – although most are in the 10’–20’ range. 

Consider Ongoing Maintenance

It’s important to remember that any living fence is going to need maintenance to remain healthy and stay in the proper shape. Things like hedges and evergreen trees don’t need a ton of attention throughout the year, but you can’t just leave them alone and expect them to stay exactly as they are. Keep this maintenance in mind when designing your fence so you don’t put yourself in a difficult position moving forward. 

Specifically, consider how you will access the fence to care for it when it needs pruning. Are you able to walk around the entire living fence or are there physical barriers that will be in your way? This is particularly important if you are going to be using this feature up near the edge of your property line. Knowing you are able to access the entire length of the fence to cut it back and keep it cleaned up is an essential part of this project. 

Whether you are going to use only natural fencing on your property or a blend of natural and traditional fence styles, TLC is here to assist with the work. Thanks to years of experience serving clients in and around Jackson, WY, we are experts in landscaping projects in this region and have a host of knowledge and a passion to serve you. Contact us today.