Thank you all for your responses. Sorry I can't reply to you all. The fencing is good quality and I prefer it with the concrete posts and gravel boards. All three of us had the fencing done at the same time as our old fencing was damaged by the last storm. My neighbours on the left side of my house had their fence all on one level. Myself and my neighbour on the right-hand side had our fencing stepped. It's difficult to see on the photos but none of the stepping down is measured equal and looks odd. The posts do not follow a 6ft line stepping down. At the bottom of the garden the fencing is lower than it was previously as it's gone onto the property behind and unfortunately I have 3 concrete posts in the left hand corner of my garden for some strange reason. I don't think I could slide in extra gravel boards at the bottom to make the fencing higher as it is to the top of the posts now? Thanks 😊
I, too, think your fencing looks fine. When we had the fencing done in our previous garden, we just had 6ft, 5ft and 4ft panels put in, without the gravel boards. We actually wanted some lower ones, to allow more light in - plus we wanted to be able to talk to neighbours. We did it with their blessing.
When they left, the new neighbours were less friendly, but, in their lesser wisdom, raised the level of the garden throughout, then complained our fence was too low, and insisted we put in 6ft panels throughout. They put in their own, which were above ours!!
I wish we'd put in gravel boards, like yours. The level they are at often depends on the level of the land the other side.
Your end ones do look low, but if the level of the garden beyond is lower than yours, there was probably very little the installers could do.
I'd suggest sticking with it. Paint it green to allow any plants to blend in, and grow something up a fixed trellis. In a garden with the slope (or stepping) you have, you need to be patient and forward thinking.
It'll work, and you'll be amazed at difference a few years on.
It won't be long and the panels will fade to a soft pale grey. No need to paint and it could soak through to the other side of the fence. You could also get paint on the concrete posts.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I see, so you're looking for symmetry. It's interesting that they didn't make it symmetrical simply because the ground between is symmetrical! I guess it's a matter of taste, but I like the asymmetry, but I also like my garden to be taken over by plants If it bothers you, then aside from learning to love it, perhaps cutting fence top trellis to size and adding it where symmetry is needed would satisfy? Once it's grown over, it can become your little secret.
Actually, is the garden to the right lower than the garden to the left? They might have had to step it down if so. Your neighbour won't want a prison wall
In addition to the other, very good comments given, another problem re the posts close together is that it isn't always obvious until you get in there as to the state of the ground, and how easy it will be to get posts in. As already said, some strategic planting always helps, and you can paint the fences to help them 'disappear'. I know people always say they'll fade, but that can depend on the quality of the material and the climate as to how soon that happens, and it also depends on whether you actually like that colouring.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I also think it looks OK. You're on what looks like an irregular two-way slope - sloping both downwards from your house and downwards from left to right, and it looks as if they've done the best they can to follow the slopes.
I see what you mean about the bottom end appearing low from your side, but if you don't like the look of the easy fix which would be deeper (or additional) gravel boards and the fence panels being a bit higher than the posts, it would be an expensive fix to have the posts taken out and replaced with longer ones. I can see why the contractor doesn't want to do it, but if you really want that, and it wouldn't make it too high from the other side (presumably not as you said the old fence was higher), maybe you could discuss paying part of the cost? If you're not completely against the idea of extra gravel boards, maybe you could ask the contractor to put one in when they come back, and see what it looks like. It's a quick easy job for two strong people and reversible if you don't like it.
It'll probably look better when the trees come into leaf, but that's not a year-round solution.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
If an extra gravel board raises the fence panel above the posts, I would be very concerned! Fences are a necessary evil in many domestic gardens. I've tried to cover mine up with trees, shrubs and climbers. I only painted mine because there were four types of fencing of different ages and colours here when I moved in. I much prefer the bleached driftwood look!
Posts
At the bottom of the garden the fencing is lower than it was previously as it's gone onto the property behind and unfortunately I have 3 concrete posts in the left hand corner of my garden for some strange reason.
I don't think I could slide in extra gravel boards at the bottom to make the fencing higher as it is to the top of the posts now?
Thanks 😊
When they left, the new neighbours were less friendly, but, in their lesser wisdom, raised the level of the garden throughout, then complained our fence was too low, and insisted we put in 6ft panels throughout. They put in their own, which were above ours!!
I wish we'd put in gravel boards, like yours. The level they are at often depends on the level of the land the other side.
Your end ones do look low, but if the level of the garden beyond is lower than yours, there was probably very little the installers could do.
I'd suggest sticking with it. Paint it green to allow any plants to blend in, and grow something up a fixed trellis. In a garden with the slope (or stepping) you have, you need to be patient and forward thinking.
It'll work, and you'll be amazed at difference a few years on.
If it bothers you, then aside from learning to love it, perhaps cutting fence top trellis to size and adding it where symmetry is needed would satisfy? Once it's grown over, it can become your little secret.
As already said, some strategic planting always helps, and you can paint the fences to help them 'disappear'. I know people always say they'll fade, but that can depend on the quality of the material and the climate as to how soon that happens, and it also depends on whether you actually like that colouring.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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