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Boundary structures add a layer of security to your home, provide privacy and corral kids and pets. They can also enhance your home’s street appeal, making it look well maintained and stylish. Here are lots of ways to boost your borders.
Power-washing and repainting the mortar can bring rendered or brick walls back to life. Solid metal fences with scratches and patches of rust can be re-coated with specialist paint products – perhaps in a colour that helps them ‘disappear’, or makes adjacent greenery the star of the show. Timber fencing may be cleaned and refinished with oil or varnish for a natural look but, if you have replaced palings or panels, painting could be a better option, as well as letting you make a style statement with a fresh shade. When choosing, think about the first thing you want people to see when they arrive, suggests Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr. “If you want something eye-catching, you may decide to paint your fence in a contrasting colour to your home’s exterior to ensure it has impact,” she says.
If replacing an old fence or building from scratch, decide what you need your new boundary to do. Is it purely to mark the perimeter of your property? A simple row of pretty plants or low pickets could be the answer. Vertical railings can help keep kids and pets contained, while tall, solid metal fences, brick or painted walls and even a dense hedge can offer security, as well as delivering privacy from a busy street. Before finalising your choice, make sure to check with your local authority for any restrictions, required materials – such as in bushfire-prone areas – and/or necessary approvals.
Hedges make a beautiful living boundary. Look at species that suit your climate and the site’s available sunlight, says horticulturist Chloe Thomson (beantheredugthat.com). Then, “Consider the height and width you want the fully grown hedge to be, and the shape or shapes you want it to make,” she says. “Are you looking for clean, sharply pruned corners and straight lines? Or do you want your hedge to be a meandering curve with rounded edges?” Think about whether the leaf and flower colour suits your garden style, and bear in mind you’ll need to have the tools required for pruning, adds Chloe. “Really tall hedges may need an extension pole hedge trimmer,” she says.
For a formal or modern garden, buxus species are the classic formal hedge, says Chloe. “But for a native alternative, consider Leptospermum laevigatum ‘Fore Shore’, a coastal tea-tree that will form a low, compact hedge 30-50cm high in most climates,” she says. For a looser, more cottagey style, Chloe suggests Teucrium fruticans or lavender. “Depending on which type you choose, you can go low, knee-height edging or border hedges, or much taller, one-metre high bushes,” she explains. Viburnum odoratissimum (sweet viburnum), with its dark-green, glossy leaves and clusters of white flowers, has scented appeal. “And many of the colourful Aussie natives make beautiful hedges, including callistemon (‘Kings Park Special’), grevillea (‘Moonlight’, ‘Honey Gem’ or ‘Majestic’), or showy honey myrtle,” adds Chloe.
A border could also simply be a row of tall planters stocked with colourful annuals, or spilling over with trailing plants such as Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’. To balance form and function, add climbers to soften a fence or cascade over a wall. Or combine a hedge along the perimeter with a well-stocked garden bed in the front yard – clipped greenery can look wonderful contrasted with relaxed, perennial shrubs and/or an array of annuals. When considering front-of-house appeal, don’t forget the verge. If it’s turfed, aim to keep it neatly trimmed. Or ask your local council if this area can be populated with easy-care plants like small-growing natives, or tough grasses or succulents.
Paint is a speedy refresher, and there are tricks to try depending on the result you’re looking for. “Reduce the focus on your fence by tonally making it the same colour(s) as your home’s exterior colour scheme,” suggests Andrea Lucena-Orr. “Neutrals are usually your best bet here. Painting boundary fences to highlight greenery is also a fantastic way to elevate your front garden. Try whites and greys, blues and teals, and also brown and charcoal in earthy tones such as Dulux Domino or Dulux Namadji. These darker hues work to complement greenery, and can also create a sense of warmth and ‘nature’ that you might be looking for.”
Follow this guide to build a fence from scratch.
Photo Credit: Jane Dove Juneau, Cath Muscat, Alamy Stock Photo, Alex Reinders
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
