What You Need for Your Fencing Project

A fence does more than mark a boundary. It frames the garden you’re building, gives you a sense of privacy and calm, and creates the backdrop for everything that comes next  the planting, the lighting, the little moments outside with a cup of tea.

If you’re planning a new fence (or replacing an old one) this is your Caragh-style checklist, a practical reassurance, designed to help you choose well the first time.

Start With Your Why?

Before you measure anything, ask yourself what you want your fence to do.

• Privacy: Are you screening a seating area, a hot tub corner, or an overlooked boundary?
• Shelter: Is the garden exposed or windy?
• Safety: Do you need to keep children or pets in (or wandering visitors out)?
• Style: Do you want the fence to disappear into planting, or be a feature of your garden?

A good fence is always a balance of strength, height and softness  and you can absolutely have all three.

Measure once, plan twice

A little planning here saves a lot of pain later.

• Measure the full run (the length of the boundary you’re fencing)
• Mark any changes in level (slopes, steps, raised beds)
• Note obstacles (trees, drains, walls, existing posts)
• Decide where the gate will go (and which way it should open)

Caragh Garden Notebook tip: If the boundary is long, sketch it on paper and number each panel bay. It makes ordering, delivery, and installation so much smoother.

The core components (your fencing bundle)

Most fencing projects come down to a few key building blocks. The good news is you can get the complete bundle with us so everything fits together properly.Fence panels

Choose the style that suits your garden and the level of privacy you want.

Your posts do the heavy lifting especially in Irish weather.

• Timber posts create a warm, classic look and are beautiful in planted gardens
• Concrete posts are incredibly durable and ideal for exposed sites

Gravel boards (timber or concrete)

Gravel boards protect the bottom of your fence from constant damp which is one of the biggest reasons fences age early.

I love the look of a timber gravel board but I’ve always been one for aesthetics rather than practicality as the concrete ones will always last longer. 

Concrete gravel boards also give you a brilliant choice of finish

• Smooth (clean and simple)
• Brick-look (a little more decorative and traditional)

Post fixings and Height

The right fixings make the whole structure stronger and help everything stay straight and secure over time. Fence height isn’t just about privacy  it affects light, wind, and how enclosed the garden feels.

• If you’re fencing a seating area, you may want slightly more screening without it feeling too enclosed, try the 90cm/3 ft option with the added gravel board to take it to 4ft.
• If you’re fencing near planting beds, think about the backdrop you’re creating, I prefer a good 5ft size with an added gravel board taking it to 6ft tall.
• If you’re in an exposed spot, a fence thats too solid and too tall can take a battering in storms, choose our waney fence as the best option here, its string and built to last. 

We are writing a dedicated guide on fence heights (including the common 1.8m/6ft guideline)  and we will link it here once its live.

The finishing touches that make a fence feel like a garden

This is where a boundary becomes a backdrop. A trellis can add a lighter sense of screening above a fence line, and its perfect for climbers.

If you want the garden to feel more designed not just fenced arches and pergolas add structure and a sense of journey.

Caragh Garden Notebook tip: A fence is the ideal place to start a climber story  jasmine for scent, roses for romance, clematis for colour or evergreen climbers for year-round softness.

Installation we don’t install, but we can point you to trusted help

We don’t offer installation ourselves, but we do have our top three fencing contractors for you to choose from if you’d like a professional fit.

If you’re planning to use a contractor, its worth sharing

• the boundary measurements
• photos of the site
• notes on levels/slopes
• your preferred panel style and height
• We can also add our expert notes for you to make it all work.

It helps them quote accurately and keeps the project moving.

Quick checklist for you to save 

• Decide the purpose: privacy, safety, shelter, style
• Measure the run and mark obstacles/levels
• Choose panels
• Choose posts, timber or concrete
• Choose gravel boards,  timber or concrete (smooth/brick-look/hedgehog hole)
• Add post mix and possible fixings and any finishing details
• Plan gate position and swing, we’ll show you the styles that will work best.
• Consider trellis/climbers or arches/pergolas for softness and height

And if you’d like help choosing the right combination for your garden, send us a photo and your rough measurements  well guide you through it or alternatively our fencing experts Darren & Derek are always happy to help guide you through the process and show you the styles on the nursery.

Ready to start?