subject: Fencing In Your Garden? Consider A Bamboo Garden Fence [print this page] There are lots of options when putting up a garden fence. Is the fence strictly to add beauty to your yard or are you trying to keep out wandering animals? One unique type of fencing is a bamboo garden fence.
Bamboo garden fences come in many sizes and designs. Use either premade fence panels or try your hand with split or rolled bamboo. Either choice will produce results you will be pleased with.
If you want to add your own unique touch to your yard, consider building the fence yourself. It will be more time consuming but there are a few things you can do to make the process easier.
When building a bamboo garden fence, it's best to use pressure treated posts to sink into the ground. These have a longer life than cedar posts, so your bamboo fence will last a lot longer.
When it's time to attach the bamboo to the posts, make any cuts using a fine bladed hacksaw. Other types of saws cause splitting at times. When cutting bamboo, cut at an angle, above the joint. This allows the membrane to protect against water collecting.
When you are ready to attach the bamboo to the posts, it's recommended that a drill be used to make holes for the nails. These holes should be made slightly larger than the nails will be. By doing this, you reduce the chance that the bamboo will split or be crushed.
One important fact about bamboo is that it is a grass and not wood. Therefore it shouldn't come into direct contact with the ground or it will deteriorate. You can prevent this from occurring by putting a piece of wood along the lower edge of your garden fence with the bamboo above it.
Bamboo fencing can last years if properly built and maintained. Like a wooden fence, it should be treated, using a preservative with UV protection. Doing this can add years to the life of your fence.
As the years go by, you'll no doubt notice that the bamboo is cracking and fading. This is caused by the weather and sunlight and can't be prevented entirely. Wood fences are also affected. It's a good idea to keep applying a preservative on a regular basis to limit damage.
If you decide to go with a bamboo garden fence, you are making a good decision. Bamboo is a renewable resource so you are helping the environment by using it instead of another material. Plus you will end up with a beautiful and unique garden fence.
