Incorporating Functional Fencing Into a Naturalistic Landscape Design in Powell OH
Creating a private backyard retreat, ensuring safety around a pool, and containing pets requires fencing. But if you want a naturalistic landscape, standard fencing won’t contribute to the aesthetic. Here are our tips for incorporating functional fencing into a naturalistic landscape design in Powell, OH.
A Private Backyard Retreat
A truly relaxing retreat is private and secluded. If your backyard feels exposed and you feel like your neighbors are practically in your backyard, you need privacy fencing. An expanse of endless brown or white privacy fencing can make you feel like you’re trapped in a box (remember those dioramas we all made in school?); but there are a few ways to achieve privacy in a more natural way.
First, you could grow climbing vines over any fence. This softens the look and adds seasonal color. However, vines tend to damage wood over time as they are very heavy, and you may find yourself having to replace the wood after a decade or so. Adding a sturdy metal support that creates a gap between the vines and the fence could help extend the lifespan of the fence.
You could also create a custom fence that alternates panels with different orientations: a horizontally oriented panel followed by a vertical panel, and then another horizontal one, and so on. Break up the monotony of privacy panels even more by separating them with masonry pillars. This will help integrate the fence into the landscape, especially if you use stone that could have been sourced right on the property.
Painting or staining a wooden fence a dark color such as black or espresso also lends a chic vibe to your backyard; the dark color also blends into the surroundings more, to prevent the cardboard box look.
Poolside Safety
If you need a fence around the pool, you could consider thin (no more than 3”) horizontal wood slats spaced an inch or inch-and-a-half apart and anchored to metal posts to add texture, a mix of materials, and of course absolute security. Use this option in a taller (6’ or 8’) version on the windy side of the pool to create a more comfortable space; on a sunny or protected side, you could use the same fence in a lower version (4’) or, make the slats vertical to offer an interesting contrast.
Finish the look by planting tall ornamental grasses next to the fence. This will soften the look and the play of horizontal and vertical elements will add visual interest to the space. Depending on the vegetation around the pool, you could leave the wood slats natural colored, or blend them into darker vegetation with a rich stain.
Pet Enclosures
Any fence designed to keep pets in has to be tall enough to prevent jumping; and the spacing must be such that small pets like cats can’t squeeze through. A chain link fence is often the go-to, but it doesn’t add anything visually to a naturalistic landscape. A great solution is to face the chain link on the yard side with bamboo.
For a more open and airy look that lets pets peek through to the outside world, a wood latticework fence looks great in a natural setting. The lattice can be vertically oriented, or at a 45-degree angle. Either way, staining the lattice a mid-tone brown will help the fence blend into the surroundings.
Related: CREATE A FAIRYTALE BACKYARD WITH THESE LANDSCAPE DESIGN IDEAS IN POWELL AND DUBLIN OH