9 Creative Alternatives to Fencing

Updated on January 3, 2022

Fences are a great way to protect your home, but you may want to consider alternatives to fencing. Alternative fencing will allow you to maximize space, beautify your yard, and create yard boundaries on a budget. Let’s take a look at the 9 best alternatives to fencing.

Alternatives to Fencing

If you are looking for an alternative to fencing, here are our 9 best alternatives:

1. Gabion Wall

alternatives to fencing

Gabion walls use retaining wire, wood posts, and stones to create a border or fence. All you do is use the wood posts as fence posts. Then, connect the retaining wire to the posts so that it can catch the stones. Finally, insert stones into the retaining wire.

This alternative to fencing is wonderful because it can compliment any landscape. This gabion wall will add beautiful dimension and richness to the outside of your home. Just match the stone type and color to your house and yard.

Another reason a gabion wall makes a good fence alternative is because it offers great privacy and protection. You can construct this fence high enough so that it is difficult to crawl over. The slating and wiring also makes it impossible to get through.

A downside of a gabion wall is that it can be expensive. Unless you have a lot of rock on hand, you will have to buy a lot of stones, and stones are expensive. The stones will also make the wall heavy and difficult to construct.

2. Stone Wall

alternatives to fencing

Stone walls are constructed by placing rocks on one another until they form a wall. This construction does not require any binding agent, so it is very easy to construct these fences. The lack of binding also saves you money.

These fences are very picturesque and will fit in with any gorgeous yard design. You don’t even have to worry about cleaning this fence because moss does not hurt the rocks. Instead, you can let the stone wall get damp and mossy, which makes it even more picturesque.

One downside to a stone wall fence is that they are traditionally lower to the ground. While this design promotes air flow, it does not cover or protect most of the property. A person or animal could easily hop the fence.

Another downside to stone wall fencing is that it can be very expensive. The flat rocks that are needed for the fence cost a lot of money, and you will need a lot of them to make a fence.

Additionally, stone wall fences are very difficult to construct. The rocks are heavy, which makes constructing the fence a tiresome activity. More so, placing rocks can be very meticulous.

3. Corrugated Metal Panels

corrugated metal fencing

If you want complete privacy for an affordable price, you may want to use corrugated metal panels as your fencing alternative. This material will completely cover your home without costing the normal amount of fence installations.

Corrugated metal panels will save you even more money by requiring little maintenance. Since this alternative is made from metal, it is resistant from rot and damaged that most fences are susceptible to. This fact will save you money.

Another great aspect of corrugated metal panels is that they can be made with beautiful accents to compliment any home. A popular stylistic design is a wood accent, but corrugated metal panels can be made to look modern or vintage and can come in any size you want.

Corrugated metal panels come with cons as well. For instance, it can be difficult to complete large projects on a budget. The reason for this is that it can be difficult to find large sheets of corrugated metal.

Additionally, corrugated metal panels block wind from entering the fenced in area. This fact will cause your yard to get hotter and have less fresh air.

4. Pallets

alternatives to fencing

Pallets are another great alternative to traditional fences. They are easy to find, inexpensive, and versatile. Using pallets as a fence will save you money and time. Pallet fences are also customizable, which means you will have a one of a kind fence.

You can use pallets by using whole pieces or stripping them apart. If you are using whole pieces, you will want to connect the pallets to fence posts in any way you deem desirable. If you strip the pallet, you can use the wood slats as fence boards.

One downside to pallet fences is that they are susceptible to rot and damage. When you construct your pallet fence, make sure that it is treated with water-resistance proof. This will help to prevent your fence from rotting.

5. Vertical Garden

alternatives to fencing

Vertical gardens can be a great way to add color and protection to the outside of your home. You will need a material to hang pots. This material is often pallets, slats of wood, or metal bars. Then, you will need hangable pots and plants.

One plus side to a vertical garden is that it adds beautiful dimension and color to your yard and home. It will visually compliment just about any home design. You can plant different colors and shapes of plants to add even more dimension.

Additionally, vertical garden fences conserve space. If you have minimal yard space, a vertical fence kills two birds with one stone: you have a garden and a fence.

Vertical gardens have a few downsides. Most notably, they require a lot of upkeep. You will need to water, fertilize, and repot your plants as needed. This can cost money and will certainly take some of your time.

Another downside of vertical gardens is that they can be expensive. You will need many plant types and a sturdy base to handle the weight of the plants. Though you can get plants seeds for a low price, you will then have to wait for your vertical garden to grow.

6. Bamboo

alternatives to fencing

Bamboo is a great alternative to fencing. It is fast-growing and renewable, which ensures that it is a great option for fencing purposes. In fact, bamboo grows very quickly so that it can fill in space on your property.

Because bamboo grows so quickly, it is a budget-friendly option. You will not have to buy enough bamboo for every barren spot. This fact will save you a pretty penny. Additionally, you do not have to maintain bamboo, which cuts down on maintenance costs.

There are two ways you can install bamboo as a fence:

  • Living border: You can install a bamboo fence by planting living bamboo in your yard. This technique is beneficial because it means that the bamboo will fill up space on its own.
  • Cut and dried: If you do not want living bamboo, you can purchase cut and dried bamboo. It can then be inserted into the ground as a physical barrier.

Both of these options are affordable and will offer appropriate fencing around your property.

Bamboo fences come with some downsides as well. Most notably, bamboo can spread beyond its intended area if not managed properly. Make sure that your bamboo does not spread into your neighbor’s yard.

Bamboo also can look odd next to some house designs such as Victorian style homes. Though this is a minor issue for some, it may be a bigger issue if you have spent a lot of money on the outside of your home. Bamboo looks best with cottages or smaller homes.

7. Brushwood

alternatives to fencing

Brushwood can be a picturesque alternative to fencing. Because the barrier is made from natural woods, this fence will be difficult to see against a forest or wooded backdrop. This fact makes brushwood fences visually attractive.

The materials needed for a brushwood fence are also very easy to find. You should be able to find all the needed materials at a lumberyard. The availability of brushwood makes it affordable.

The natural materials also come with a downside. Because brushwood fences are made from twigs and sticks, they can become damaged or rot easily. More so, brushwood fences can become moldy and fall apart if they are kept in damp areas.

Brushwood fences can also look odd against some backdrops. Since these fences are very natural looking, they will stand out against modern looking houses.

8. Hedge

alternatives to fencing

A hedge can be a great way to increase privacy and set a clear boundary around your property. Hedges can be as small or large as you want, which allows you to create a fence that is perfect for you and your fencing needs.

Hedges can come in many varieties. You can construct a hedge from different trees or flowering plants that have different growing rates and colors. The many options allow you to customize your hedge to compliment the design of your house.

In addition to beauty, hedges will bring wildlife to your property. They serve as a home for birds and small animals to nest, which makes your yard even more lively and beautiful.

Hedges come with some drawbacks too. To get a large hedge, you will have to wait for the hedge to grow to your desired height. This could take some time. Additionally, hedges take a lot of time and money in upkeep. You will probably have to maintain and water them according to the plant type.

Plus, hedges are prone to insect infestation. These infestations may not reach your house or cause damage to anything except the hedge, but the insects can damage the hedge, causing you to pay for insect removal or a new fence.

Finally, hedges do not always do the best job of keeping out unwanted visitors. Since hedges have natural grooves, small animals or people may go inside and maneuver their way through the hedge and into your property.

9. Rope with Ivy

alternatives to fencing

For a gentler fence, you can construct an ivy fence. You will make an ivy fence by using a rope to border your property. Make sure to bring the rope back around multiple times so that the rope is sturdy. Once the rope is in place, plant ivy so that it can grow around the rope.

Ivy fences are a wonderful addition to your yard because of their beauty. It is natural and colorful. Depending on the type of vine you use, the fence will be green all year long, which adds a pop of color to your yard. You may even want to include vines with flowers to make it even more beautiful.

Another reason that ivy fences are a great choice is because they are very inexpensive. All you need is rope and ivy, both of which are very affordable. As a result, you will have a beautiful fence on a budget with the ivy rope.

Ivy fences come with cons as well. Most notably, ivy is difficult to control once it starts growing. It can become invasive quickly, making it grow onto unwanted parts of your yard or a neighbor’s yard. If you choose this fencing alternative, be sure to remove vines that are straying away from the fence area.

An ivy fence is also susceptible to damage. The rope can rot or sag from the weight of the ivy. To resolve this issue, you can either rebuild the ivy fence or use metal chains in place of the rope. The metal chains will make the fence more expensive.

Lastly, ivy fences do not offer great protection. Ivy can be moved and create gaps in the fence. The gaps make it easy for any person or animal to slip through, making this alternative not the best choice if you want a fence to keep out unwanted visitors.

Conclusion

To recap, there are many alternatives to fencing that might suit your needs better. In fact, there are 9 possible alternatives that can offer your home protection and privatization.

These 9 alternatives include a gabion wall, stone wall, corrugated metal panels, pallets, vertical garden, bamboo, brushwood, hedge, or rope with ivy. These options offer differing protection and cost levels, which means you are sure to find an alternative perfect for you.