I remember a while ago hearing some climatologist or other saying that, with our present climate change, we can expect more rain, more flooding, wider variations in temperatures, and stronger winds. I think they were right. While I get no flooding where I am high on the Pennines of West Yorkshire, we certainly get the wind. I was shocked when, well before Storm Doris was expected to be knocking on my garden fencing, powerful gusts of wind were blasting and shaking my 5ft featherlap fencing. On
January 2017, a 4x3in fencing post snapped at the base and three fencing panels came down. So, I had to have a major rethink about my garden. After all, if the panels kept coming down every time there was a strong wind (which is often, high on the Pennines), it was going to cause a lot of damage to plants where they fell. So, in March I had the lot replaced with concrete posts, gravel boards, and double wood panels with allow light and air through (shadow panels). It was a traumatic experience. Before and after photos:-
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| My garden and lawn at its best, August 2015 |
The lawn (below) took a beating as the fencing guys had limited place to put down old fencing and equipment. Rain didn't help matters.
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| My garden and lawn at its worst, March 2017, after the fencing contractor had left |
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| Out with the old, overlapping wood panels about to be taken down, March 2017 |
My neighbour wanted his garden flat, so raised the level of his garden against my old wooden fence. Hopefully the gravel boards will retain the soil, and protect the new panels from rotting. At least the new concrete posts won't rot and snap at the base now.
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| Neighbour raised level of his garden against my fence, photo March 2017 |
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Neighbours over the fencing dumping garden waste
against my fencing. Photo: March 2017 |
I like the new look. The new style fence has stopped the worry of fencing coming down in the wind. My neighbour, into whose garden my old fencing fell (fortunately she just has grass), likes the look of them too.
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| In with the new: double panel (shadow) fencing, gravel boards and concrete posts, March 2017 |
My new garden look. I think it looks smart and it's good that the wooden panels can simply be slid out of their slots between the concrete posts and repaired or replaced if necessary. What a relief! They are, however, 12in (30cm) lower at 5ft than before so I have removed the vigorous jasmine climbing plants, and the poor Generous Gardener rose since taking the below photograph. Instead, I plan to grow and train
syringa (lilacs) and buddleia (butterfly bush) as tall background plants.
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New: double panel (shadow) fencing, gravel boards and concrete posts
looking better already |
