by Zoe Mack

Created on: April 15, 2008

While the phrase "organic fencing" may be new to you, the concept has been around for ages. Most organic fences of the past were called by the mundane and altogether un-exciting name of "hedge". Basically, this is all an organic fence is: a fence made out of some sort of living material. Organic fences can be created from traditional evergreen hedging, flowering shrubs, climbing roses, or low growing border plants. It might be possible to craft a living fence from, say, rabbits, but it is generally recommended that you stick with plants.

Organic fencing can be more attractive and cost less to maintain than traditional wooden, vinyl, or metal fencing. The type of plants to use will depend on and the type of fence you want, the look you are going for, the amount of work you wish to do to maintain that look, and your climate.

Types of Organic Fencing:

1. Low, border fences. These fences are generally around a foot or two high, and mainly serve to delineate a border. You may want to use such a low fence around a garden, on the edge of a walkway, or to spell out your undying love for the pilot that habitually flies over your lawn. A low fence isn't going to keep much out of your garden or yard, but it can serve as a nice aesthetic border to areas, and may help to keep people from straying off the path onto the lawn.
Plants to consider: lavender, coreopsis, hosta, cotoneaster, nasturtium

2. Medium height fences. As you probably guessed, these fences are not particularly short or tall. Medium height fences are generally in the 3-4 feet range. They can be used to keep out animals or people, and can give you a little bit of privacy (especially if you crouch down behind them.) Medium height fences can also hide a set of ugly garbage cans or the lower half of a really ugly shed. Thorny bushes, like wild roses, can strongly discourage animals or children from crawling through your fence.
Plants to consider: spirea, forsythia, purple-leaf sand cherry, burning bush, roses

3. Tall privacy or windbreak fences. These fences can range from 5-6 feet on up. A windbreak of enormous pine trees can grow to 60 feet tall, although at some point you will likely have stopped thinking of it as a fence and started thinking of it as a small linear forest. Tall organic fencing can help block the wind, keep snow from blowing onto your property, and provide some relief from your nice but nosy neighbor's ever watchful eye. Neighbors are also much more receptive to organic fences than giant wooden

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