The type of fence panel matters
There are lots of different criteria that people often use to make decisions on which fence panel to choose, such as aesthetics, privacy and security. If you’re making your own decision based on that last one, then it’s best to go for closed board fencing, sometimes known as feather board fencing.
It’s got a well-deserved reputation for its strength and stability, and does a great job of not only preventing thieves from being able to access your garden, but from even being able to see into it in the first place. That matters because most thieves are opportunists, and the majority won’t enter a property blindly – they’ll only risk getting caught if they can see something that they think is worth getting caught for.
How high should your fence be?
Ideally, around 2 metres, or just over 6ft. That’s taller than most people, so immediately makes the job just that bit more difficult as they can’t easily climb over it. Crucially, it’s not tall enough to require planning permission, so you can install it quickly and easily.
If you fancy that extra bit of height but you’re (unsurprisingly) not all that keen on the idea of sifting through planning permissions, one excellent legal way to do it is to add a trellis. This isn’t just for decorative purposes but can be an effective security measure too as it’s not going to support the weight of an extra adult (something that most people will recognise). That increases the risk of the burglar being spotted due to the noise of it breaking – and possibly the resultant injuries. Again, most people won’t risk it!
Consider natural defences
When it comes to garden security, one common question that often comes up is this one: are garden fence spikes legal? The answer is: technically. But they’re governed by strict UK legislation and require planning permission to install, so most people decide they’re not worth having, unless they’ve already suffered thefts in the recent past. The same more or less goes for barbed wire.
Happily, there’s a useful alternative. If you want to further discourage people from climbing on your garden fence, one thing you can do is use a combination of a trellis with thorny plants. It serves as a kind of natural barbed wire if you like, one that still has the same deterrent effect but isn’t restricted in the same way by planning permissions as it doesn’t pose so much of a risk to the public.
And in case you’re wondering, it’s not circumventing the law – it’s actively encouraged by organisations like the Met Police. They’ve even gone as far as to release a list of plants they’d recommend for the purpose, including creeping juniper, blue spruce, common holly, giant rhubarb, and firethorn. That’s just to name a few!
Regular maintenance is key
Obviously, keeping your garden fence panels in good condition is paramount. Otherwise, all that hard work and investment goes to waste if prospective thieves feel they can just force their way past broken or rotten garden fence panels at ground level! Happily, most garden fences don’t require a great deal of maintenance – just a quick check once every couple of months or so.
And if ever you do find a garden fence panel in need of replacement, that’s exactly where we can help here at Welch Fencing. As well as our extensive selection of concrete fence posts, we’ve also got a range of garden fence panels for you to choose from, providing you with a one-stop shop to get your garden fencing looking exactly as you’d envisioned.
Feel free to take a look around our site – and if you’ve ever got any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01772 336476, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!
