Garden Wall

Last post 28-01-2012 11:14 PM by Pam Thompson. 15 replies.

• 18/01/2012 06:20 PM
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact Hi, I have just started a gardening course unfortunately my design knowledge is very limited i was wondering if anyone could help me with one aspect of the course. I have been asked to give advantages of a fence over the wall. I can ony think of one and that the cost. Can anyone give me any reason why a fence whether it be wooden or metal would be better than a wall.  Thanks Erica

• 18/01/2012 06:30 PM

  In reply to

  La Jardinera Feliz Location: Joined on: 22 Aug 2010 Posts: 48

  Reply | Contact A couple of things that immediately spring to mind: on a very windy site, the right type of fence will provide a better windbreak than a solid wall. Not exclusive to the fence/wall question, but consideration of the style, materials and feel of the rest of the garden / landscape / house might come into it. Also, maybe, the level of expertise necessary to build it (lower for a modular fence than for a wall which will need foundations digging, some technical skill in eg laying bonds, pointing etc for a brick wall...) Is that any help? I'm sure there's more, but these are just my initial thoughts.

• 18/01/2012 06:49 PM	In reply to
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact Thats great thank you :0)

• 18/01/2012 06:55 PM	In reply to
  RogerB Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Joined on: 14 Jan 2009 Posts: 360	Reply | Contact Fences are also quicker to put up than building a wall Give it a go - it might just work!

• 19/01/2012 05:05 AM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact Depending on the type, a fence can allow light through, providing a nicer environment and better growing conditions for plants.

• 19/01/2012 08:11 AM

  In reply to

  willco Location: SE london Joined on: 05 Mar 2009 Posts: 30

  Reply | Contact Perhaps worth adding it helps create good growing conditions - I have a gooseberry and loganberry growing along a fence. The fence offers the plants a physical support, still allowing light through. Most importantly for the gooseberry, wind can still "get at it" which is exactly what the devious sawfly dislikes so means I get gooseberries! God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done

• 21/01/2012 09:47 AM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact I must mention one advantage of a garden wall - someplace to feed a cat :)

• 21/01/2012 01:02 PM	In reply to
  La Jardinera Feliz Location: Joined on: 22 Aug 2010 Posts: 48	Reply | Contact Good point Julie! Though no fence means cat uses trees as scratching posts....!

• 21/01/2012 08:37 PM	In reply to
  Snark Location: Suffolk Joined on: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 266	Reply | Contact In a dry area like this the foundations of a wall seem to wick moisture away so it is dryer than under a fence, also the lime in the cement can make it more alkaline than the surrounding soil. Having said which I love walls and if money was no object would always have the wall! For the Snark was a boojum you see

• 22/01/2012 06:44 AM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact I guess it depends on the wall. I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful weathered Georgian brick wall but a modern one would be completely different unless it was built with old bricks.

• 22/01/2012 01:38 PM	In reply to
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact Thank you, for replying :)

• 22/01/2012 01:40 PM	In reply to
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact thank you i'm going to have a lot of information to put down regarding fences and wall :0)

• 22/01/2012 01:42 PM	In reply to
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact love the photo, though i try to prevent cats getting into my garden which is futile:0)

• 22/01/2012 01:44 PM	In reply to
  Erica Location: Shropshire Joined on: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact thank you everyone who as answered my plea for help, the advice really is great and is helping my alot, i will be asking for more help has the course progresses thanks again :0)

• 25/01/2012 06:57 AM	In reply to
  Julie Location: London Joined on: 28 Apr 2009 Posts: 410	Reply | Contact I forgot there are other animals that like eating on the wall. I put nuts out for the squirrels and they like to take them and sit on the wall to eat them as they like to be higher. Also some of the birds in the garden won't come down and pick up the nuts from the ground but will swoop down and take the nuts off the wall: jays and magpies.