Even if you get along well with your neighbors, there are times when you want your yard to be a place of peace and quiet. You want to unwind away from prying eyes. A privacy fence surrounding your property is one way to carve out a little space for yourself and your family. Depending on the size of your yard and the fence height, a privacy fence may be beyond your budget.
Luckily, there are ways to protect your yard and enjoy that peace without breaking the bank. Consider these inexpensive privacy fence ideas.
Go Semi-Private
Privacy fences have pickets placed right up against each other, forming a wall that curious passersby can't see through. Privacy fences can also be tall; some are six feet in height. The number of pickets and the fence's height often drive the price of the fence up.
If you don't need full-on privacy, a more budget-friendly pick is a semi-private fence. Semi-private fences are usually shorter than privacy fences, around four feet tall. They also have pickets that are spaced further apart. It is possible to peer through the fence, but the fence creates a boundary between your yard and your neighbor's.
Pallet Fence
If you love Pinterest, you've probably seen a fair share of DIY projects involving wood shipping pallets. Pallets get turned into furniture, planters, and even fences. Since many stores treat pallets like shipping waste, it's easy to get a lot of them for very little. If you ask nicely, a store might even let you take the pallets out of its hands for free.
Double-check with your homeowners' association (HOA) first if you decide to try a pallet fence. Many HOAs have strict rules regarding the types of fencing that are allowed, and yours might only allow aluminum or vinyl fences, not DIY pallet fencing.
Also, if you're not comfortable with DIY, it's better to skip this idea.
Living Fence
You can get some privacy in your yard while adding some greenery by planting shrubbery. Certain types of plants create a natural, living privacy fence. Depending on the varieties you plant, the total cost of a living fence can be less than a vinyl or aluminum fence.
There are a few things to consider before you go the living fence route. One is your HOA, which may have strict rules about what you can plant. Another consideration is your area and the type of plants that thrive there. Ideally, you'll want to pick plants that will be relatively low maintenance and that aren't invasive. Invasive plants quickly spread and take over. They can be difficult to eradicate and may cause tension between you and your neighbors.
Some varieties to consider when planting a living fence include:
- Arborvitae: These evergreen shrubs grow wide and tall. It might take a year or two for them to fill in, but after that, you'll have a solid barrier around your yard.
- Boxwood: Boxwood grows slowly but is easy to prune and cut into shapes. You can trim it to create a wide, flat wall.
- Yew: Yew is an evergreen plant that can reach about four feet in height. It also has a wide spread and is hardy, requiring little care.
Trellis
If you like the idea of a living fence, but want something more vining and less shrub-like, consider putting up a trellis along the perimeter of your yard. Then, plant a vining or trailing plant, like ivy, in front of it. The ivy will grow and climb the trellis as it does so, creating a wall of greenery.
Another option is to plant tall flowers and perennials in front of the trellis. There will be more openings and spaces between your yard and the neighbors, so you won't have a solid privacy wall, but the plants and trellis will form a barrier separating your property from the rest of the world.
Partial Fence
Installing a privacy fence around the entire perimeter of your yard might be beyond your budget. Instead, think about installing a privacy fence around part of your yard, then trying something else around the remainder might work for you. For example, you might put up a vinyl fence around the back edge of your property, then plant shrubs along the two sides.
Also, keep in mind that different fence types have different price points. An aluminum fence around your entire yard might not work for your budget, but a wood fence might.
HOA Affordable Fence Builders provides quality fencing at an affordable price. If you want to install a privacy fence but need help with how to make it work with your budget, we can help. Download our free cost guide for more budgeting tips and information.
