Ideas and practical advice for improving the layout, structure and appearance of your garden. Topics include patios, paving, decking, drainage, retaining walls, raised beds, gravel boards, railway sleepers and weed control. These articles help you plan landscaping projects and select suitable materials for the job.
28 August 2026
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33
Quick answer: Fan Trellis can start leaning, bowing or pulling away because the wall or fence fixings have loosened, the supporting surface has deteriorated, the timber has moved naturally or climb..
28 August 2026
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38
Quick answer: Yes, Fan Trellis can be fixed to a suitable wooden fence, but it should be attached to sound structural timber rather than relying on thin or loose fence boards alone. Current East Co..
28 August 2026
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36
Quick answer: Choose 900mm-wide Fan Trellis when wall space is limited or you are supporting one climber in a focused planting position. Choose 1.2m-wide Fan Trellis when the plant needs more room ..
28 August 2026
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36
Quick answer: Fan Trellis should be fixed securely to a sound wall or suitable timber support before climbing plants are trained onto it. Leave enough clearance behind the trellis for stems, plant ..
28 August 2026
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42
Quick answer: Choose Diamond Trellis when you need a broad rectangular panel for several plants, a garden divider, fence-top feature or larger wall area. Choose Fan Trellis when you are supporting ..
28 August 2026
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32
Quick answer: Minor Diamond Trellis damage can sometimes be repaired if the outer frame remains sound and the problem is limited to one lattice strip, one intersection or a loose fixing. Replacemen..
28 August 2026
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42
Quick answer: Diamond Trellis can be installed between wooden posts to create an open garden screen, climbing-plant support or decorative boundary. Measure the actual panel before setting the posts..
28 August 2026
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35
Quick answer: Yes, Diamond Trellis can be cut to fit a non-standard space, but it is more awkward to shorten neatly than square trellis because the battens run diagonally. Cutting through a framed ..
28 August 2026
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34
Quick answer: Yes, climbing roses can be trained on Diamond Trellis, but they need tying and guidance because they do not simply attach themselves securely to the lattice. The diagonal pattern prov..
28 August 2026
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46
Quick answer: Diamond Trellis and Traditional Trellis are both open timber lattice panels suited to climbing plants, decorative screening and garden zoning. Choose Diamond Trellis when the diagonal..
28 August 2026
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42
Quick answer: Yes. Privacy Square Trellis can be installed on a sloping garden, but rigid rectangular panels are normally kept level and stepped from post to post rather than tilted to follow the g..
28 August 2026
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41
Quick answer: Privacy Square Trellis can be installed between pressure-treated wooden posts to create a freestanding garden screen, patio divider or planted boundary. Measure the actual panel befor..
28 August 2026
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31
Quick answer: Privacy Square Trellis provides considerably more screening than open Traditional Trellis, but it is not completely private. East Coast Fencing's current panels use approximately 50mm..
28 August 2026
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43
Quick answer: Yes, Traditional Trellis can often be repaired if damage is limited to one or two lattice battens or loose fixing points and the surrounding frame remains sound. East Coast Fencing's ..
28 August 2026
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35
Quick answer: Traditional Trellis is well suited to many climbing plants, but the mature weight of the plant matters more than how small it is when planted. East Coast Fencing's current Traditional..
28 August 2026
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36
Quick answer: Traditional Trellis is made from real timber, so small changes in shape and square spacing can occur as the wood gains and loses moisture. East Coast Fencing's current Traditional Squ..
28 August 2026
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36
Quick answer: Yes. Traditional Trellis can form a freestanding garden screen when it is securely installed between suitable posts. East Coast Fencing's current Traditional Square Trellis is approxi..
28 August 2026
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43
Quick answer: Choose Traditional Trellis when climbing plants, light, airflow and an open garden feel are the priorities. Its current approximately 100mm square openings leave considerably more vis..
28 August 2026
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52
Quick answer: Horizontal Slatted Trellis and Double Slatted Fence Panels may look similar because both use horizontal timber lines, but they serve different purposes. Horizontal Slatted Trellis is ..
28 August 2026
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34
Quick answer: Horizontal Slatted Trellis is made from real timber, so some movement as moisture levels change is normal. Individual slats can shrink, swell or move slightly, while a complete panel ..
28 August 2026
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48
Quick answer: Horizontal Slatted Trellis can be installed between pressure-treated wooden posts to create a freestanding garden screen, patio divider or planted boundary. Set the posts to suit the ..
28 August 2026
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38
Quick answer: Choose Horizontal Slatted Trellis when you want contemporary horizontal lines, filtered screening and a screen that still feels light and open. Choose Privacy Square Trellis when clos..
28 August 2026
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46
Quick answer: Yes, fence topper trellis can be used with concrete-post fencing, but the support arrangement needs more planning than it does with wooden posts. Slotted concrete posts are designed p..
28 August 2026
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35
Quick answer: Yes, timber fence topper trellis can usually be cut to fit a narrower fence bay, but it should not simply be sawn through and installed with loose lattice ends. Cutting normally remov..
28 August 2026
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32
Quick answer: A 300mm fence topper is best when you mainly want a decorative finish, a small amount of extra height or light plant support. A 450mm topper creates a more noticeable upper section an..
28 August 2026
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50
Quick answer: Fence panel clips and exterior screws can both be used to secure compatible fence panels to wooden posts. Clips create a defined fixing around the panel frame and can make future pane..
28 August 2026
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52
Quick answer: A garden gate usually sags because something in the supporting system has moved or loosened. Common causes include a leaning hinge post, loose or undersized hinges, weak fixings, fail..
28 August 2026
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40
Quick answer: Choose Decorative Fence Panels when you want a substantial finished boundary that provides useful screening as soon as it is installed. Choose Trellis Panels when openness, climbing-p..
28 August 2026
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41
Quick answer: Good Decorative Fence Panels depend on more than appearance. Check the outer frame, timber section sizes, slat arrangement, spacing, pressure treatment, overall panel depth and how ac..
27 August 2026
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49
Quick answer: Hit & Miss Fence Panels are particularly useful for dividing a garden because they create clear separation without the heavy appearance of a completely solid screen. Their alternating..
27 August 2026
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39
Quick answer: Double Slatted Fence Panels work particularly well around patios, seating areas and garden rooms because their horizontal design provides useful screening without creating the complet..
27 August 2026
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40
Quick answer: Choose Picket Fence Panels when you want the quickest and simplest way to create a regular low boundary. The pales are already spaced and fixed to supporting rails, so installation ma..
27 August 2026
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41
Quick answer: Yes, Waney Lap Fence Panels are a practical choice for garden privacy because their overlapping horizontal boards create a largely solid timber screen. Taller 5ft, 5ft 6in and 6ft pan..
27 August 2026
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44
Quick answer: Both wooden and compatible slotted concrete posts can be used with Decorative Fence Panels. Wooden posts usually give Double Slatted, Hit & Miss and Omega Lattice panels the most coor..
27 August 2026
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39
Quick answer: There is no single lifespan that applies to every Double Slatted Fence Panel. How long they remain in good condition depends on timber treatment, installation, moisture exposure, post..
27 August 2026
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40
Quick answer: The best Fence Panels for a small garden provide enough screening without making every boundary feel like a solid wall. Closeboard and Waney Lap panels work where privacy is the prior..
27 August 2026
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40
Quick answer: Yes, Decorative Fence Panels can be mixed within the same garden, and doing so can be more practical than using one panel style everywhere. The best results come from giving each styl..
27 August 2026
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38
Quick answer: Install Omega Lattice Fence Panels between accurately positioned posts, supporting the panel by its main outer frame rather than the curved lattice top. Keep each panel level, measure..
27 August 2026
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36
Quick answer: Hit & Miss Fence Panels provide useful privacy, but they are not completely solid. Their boards alternate across both sides of the panel, interrupting direct sightlines while leaving ..
23 August 2026
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72
Quick answer: Lay Railway Sleepers flat when you want maximum bearing width, a lower 100mm profile or a broad surface for edging, low beds and seating. Turn them on edge when you want approximately..
23 August 2026
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93
Quick answer: Diamond Trellis is a strong choice when you want an attractive support for climbing plants, a decorative garden divider or light screening without creating a solid boundary. The diago..
23 August 2026
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56
Quick answer: Square Rails are horizontal timber components used to support fence boards, picket pales, panel framing and other outdoor timberwork. The correct rail depends on the span, fence heigh..
23 August 2026
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56
Quick answer: Most timber garden gates need a suitable pair of hinges and a latch, with a pad bolt or drop bolt added where extra restraint or lockable security is required. Choose Garden Gate Furn..
23 August 2026
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78
Quick answer: Timber battens are slim lengths of timber used for trellis construction, contemporary slatted screens, light framing, garden features and repairs. Their relatively small section makes..
23 August 2026
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65
Quick answer: Horizontal Slatted Trellis can provide useful privacy while keeping a garden lighter and more open than solid fencing. The horizontal slats interrupt sightlines, but the gaps between ..
23 August 2026
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50
Quick answer: Choose a fence topper when you already have a sound fence and only want extra screening, decoration or support for climbing plants above it. Choose full trellis panels when you want a..
23 August 2026
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77
Quick answer: You can often add trellis to an existing fence, but only if the fence belongs to you or you have the necessary agreement, the posts are sound enough to support the extra height, and t..
23 August 2026
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46
Quick answer: Omega Lattice Fence Panels are best when you want a decorative boundary that keeps the garden feeling light and open. The lattice construction allows considerably more light, air and ..
23 August 2026
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45
Quick answer: Double Slatted Fence Panels provide a high level of screening while retaining the lighter, more contemporary appearance of horizontal slatted fencing. They are a strong choice around ..
23 August 2026
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42
Quick answer: Choose Closeboard Fence Panels if your priority is a solid, traditional boundary with strong privacy and a straightforward appearance. Choose Decorative Fence Panels if appearance, li..
23 August 2026
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63
Quick answer: The best Decorative Fence Panels depend on what you want the boundary to do. Choose a more closely spaced design when privacy is the priority, a slatted or Hit & Miss style when you w..
23 August 2026
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68
Quick answer: Choose Closeboard fence panels if you want a more substantial traditional privacy fence with overlapping vertical boards. Choose Waney Lap if you prefer the familiar horizontal overla..
13 August 2026
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255
Quick answer: In many UK gardens, trellis can be fitted above a fence, but you should calculate the height of the complete boundary rather than treating the trellis separately. In England and Wales..
10 August 2026
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183
Quick answer: The best garden fence combines the level of privacy you need with a design that suits the size and style of the garden. Closeboard and waney lap panels work well for solid screening, ..
10 August 2026
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127
Quick answer: Choose a fence if you want immediate privacy, a clearly defined boundary, predictable dimensions and relatively little space taken from the garden. Choose a hedge if you prefer a natu..
10 August 2026
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160
Quick answer: Measure each straight section of the fence separately, record every corner, gate and change in ground level, then plan the fence around the actual dimensions of the panels, posts and ..
6 August 2026
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576
Quick answer: A professionally supplied and installed garden fence in the UK commonly costs around £85 to £180 per metre. A straightforward timber panel fence may sit near the lower end, while deco..
6 August 2026
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134
Quick answer: A good-quality garden fence combines well-constructed panels with correctly sized posts, adequate foundations, suitable gravel boards and durable exterior fixings. Look beyond timber ..
6 August 2026
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129
Quick answer: Ask a fencing contractor for a detailed written quote covering the panels, post sizes, gravel boards, foundations, fixings, gates, waste removal and VAT. Confirm how they assess the g..
6 August 2026
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134
Quick answer: Inspect every side of the garden rather than judging the fence from the patio. Check whether posts move, timber is soft at ground level, concrete is cracked, panels are loose, gravel ..
5 August 2026
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123
Quick answer: Start by confirming the boundary, finished fence height and location of buried services. Choose a complete compatible system of panels, posts, gravel boards, foundations and fixings. ..
5 August 2026
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109
Quick answer: Choose Omega lattice panels for a traditional decorative boundary with a solid lower section and curved lattice top, horizontal hit and miss panels for balanced appearance and increas..
5 August 2026
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172
Quick answer: A successful garden fence starts with the right panel, post and gravel-board combination. Closeboard panels suit strong privacy fencing, waney lap panels offer a practical traditional..
5 August 2026
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774
Quick answer: If the fence belongs to your neighbour, do not attach planters, trellis, lights, screening, hooks, mirrors, plants or decorations without their permission. The face visible from your ..
5 August 2026
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201
Quick answer: Choose landscaping sleepers by considering the project, finished dimensions, ground contact, structural loading and preferred treatment colour. The available pressure-treated timber s..
5 August 2026
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167
Quick answer: Choose traditional square trellis for general climbing plants and decorative screening, privacy square trellis when smaller openings and greater screening are required, horizontal sla..
31 July 2026
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122
Quick answer: Stop fence panels rotting at the bottom by keeping the timber away from direct soil contact, fitting gravel boards and clearing leaves, grass and damp debris from the fence line. Use ..
31 July 2026
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139
Quick answer: To stop fence panels lifting out of concrete posts, check that each panel is wide enough to sit securely inside both post slots and that the concrete posts are upright. Fit suitable f..
31 July 2026
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124
Quick answer: To remove a fence post set in concrete, first detach the fence panels, gravel boards and fixings. Dig around the concrete foundation, loosen the surrounding soil and lift the post and..
29 July 2026
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89
Quick answer: You can usually put trellis on top of a fence without planning permission if the total height remains within the permitted limit. In England, this is normally 2 metres from ground lev..
8 July 2026
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121
Your neighbour should not grow plants up your fence without your permission if the fence belongs to you. A fence is private property, and the side facing your neighbour’s garden does not automatically..
8 July 2026
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109
The strongest type of garden fence for UK weather is usually a well-built closeboard or feather edge fence supported by strong posts, set properly into the ground, and protected at the base with grave..
6 July 2026
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149
A neighbour’s fence can have a bigger effect on your garden than many people expect. If it is broken, ugly, too low, badly maintained or completely the wrong style, it can make your own garden feel ne..
30 May 2026
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109
Quick answer: Choose a feather edge garden gate when privacy and a solid traditional appearance are the priorities, a picket gate for an open front garden or internal boundary, and a double slatted..
30 May 2026
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96
Quick answer: Buy fencing as a complete system rather than choosing panels alone. Start with the required privacy, appearance, airflow and finished height. Then match the panels with suitable timbe..
30 May 2026
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89
Growing vines and climbing plants on a fence is one of the simplest ways to soften a garden boundary. A plain run of fence panels can quickly become a living feature with colour, scent, texture and se..
30 April 2026
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130
Quick answer: Choose closeboard panels for solid privacy, ultra heavy duty closeboard for a more substantial framed option, waney lap for straightforward traditional screening, picket panels for lo..
21 August 2025
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231
A railway sleeper retaining wall is a practical way to level a sloping garden, create raised beds or form a stronger edge for paths, patios and seating areas. Sleepers give a solid, natural look and c..
20 August 2025
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285
Decking can make a garden much more usable, but it is worth checking the rules before you start. Height, position, drainage, privacy and the type of property can all affect whether planning permission..
20 August 2025
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830
If you are planning a new patio, cost is usually one of the first questions. The final price depends on the paving you choose, the size of the area, access, drainage and how much ground preparation is..
25 July 2025
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197
Quick answer: Most sloping gardens are fenced using one of three approaches: stepping standard panels down the slope, building a site-made fence that follows the gradient, or creating level section..
5 November 2024
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185
If your fence backs onto your neighbour’s garden, you may wonder whether you can go round and paint the side facing them. The simple answer is that you should ask first. Even if the fence belongs to y..
5 November 2024
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141
When planning to install a shed in your garden, one critical consideration is its proximity to your fencing. The positioning of your shed can impact several factors, including local planning laws, you..
5 November 2024
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948
If you want to put a 6ft fence at the front of your property, the first thing to check is whether the boundary sits next to a road, footpath or verge. In many UK homes, a front garden fence beside a h..
4 September 2024
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139
Quick answer: The best way to slow rot in Railway Sleepers is to use timber with a treatment specification appropriate to where it will be installed, prevent water from remaining trapped around the..
1 May 2024
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106
Best Plants to Grow Alongside a Garden Fence
A garden fence does more than mark the edge of a property. It gives privacy, creates shelter, frames the garden and provides a useful backdrop for plantin..
29 April 2024
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237
Quick answer: For many UK rear gardens, a fence around 1.8m or 6ft provides a practical balance of privacy and security. Lower fences around 0.9m to 1.2m suit front gardens and decorative boundarie..
25 March 2024
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189
Quick answer: Brown foliage in the middle of a conifer is not always a sign that the plant is dying. Older shaded foliage naturally turns brown and drops on many conifers, particularly when the out..
12 February 2024
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116
Quick answer: Timber fencing begins with logs being sorted, debarked and sawn into posts, boards, rails and smaller components. The timber may then be graded, dried, machined and pressure treated b..
1 February 2024
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135
Quick answer: There is no reliable UK rule saying that you own the fence on the left or the right. Fence ownership and maintenance responsibility may be recorded in title documents, deeds, transfer..
30 January 2024
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174
Rock salt is one of the most common products used to reduce ice on driveways, paths and paved areas during winter. It is affordable, widely available and simple to use, which is why many homeowners ke..
10 January 2024
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58
Fence repairs can be awkward when the damaged section can only be reached properly from a neighbour’s garden. Even a simple repair can become sensitive if access is not discussed first. A fence may si..
8 January 2024
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153
The easiest fence to install yourself in the UK is usually a standard wooden fence panel system using ready-made fence panels, timber posts or slotted concrete fence posts, and gravel boards where nee..
25 December 2023
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139
A leaning or rotten fence post does not always mean the whole fence needs replacing. In many cases, a concrete repair spur can be used to support the existing timber post and extend the life of the fe..
22 December 2023
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186
Yes, concrete fence posts can be painted. Many homeowners choose to paint them so they blend in better with timber fence panels, garden gates, trellis panels or the wider garden design. Concrete posts..
15 December 2023
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151
Whether you should paint or stain a pressure treated fence depends on the finish you want, the condition of the timber and how much maintenance you are prepared to do. Paint gives a stronger, more uni..