Explore our guide to different types of garden fencing to find the best fences for your garden. Learn about timber, composite, chain link, and eco-friendly fencing options.
Wooden Fence Panels
Wooden fence panels are the go-to choice for gardens because they balance cost and character better than any alternative. Timber provides privacy and gives your garden a warm, natural look that can sit comfortably with brick, stone and greenery.
Wooden panels mainly come in 6x6ft sizes, so replacing the panels or extending a boundary is a straightforward process.
Properly treated wooden panels can also withstand heavy rain and frost without rotting, and because they’re modular, you can adjust them to suit sloping ground without leaving gaps.
Post caps, capping rails and gravel boards can also help these panels shed water and reduce end-grain exposure, which can extend the wood's lifespan and keep the fence looking neat and tidy. In most cases, boundaries up to two metres high can avoid planning complications, which makes wooden panels easy to install without upsetting the neighbours.
Composite Fencing
Composite fencing is made from a mix of recycled wood fibres and tough polymers to stop the boards from rotting, warping, or splintering over time.
Composite fencing is also easy to maintain; a quick wash can restore the board's finish, and since there are no preservatives, your plants and trees can stay safe. Additionally, composite fences retain colour better due to the use of UV-stabilised pigments.
Composite fencing is also extremely easy to install. Many composite fences use modular boards that slide into aluminium or composite posts to create a continuous run with concealed fixings.
The boards are denser than most softwoods, which helps with wind resistance, and they also help soften noise from outside. Composite boards are also splinter-free and can be wiped clean, which is ideal for homes with children and pets.
Since composite boards are made from recycled material, they can last far longer than most softwood panels.
This means there will be fewer replacements over time, which can save you money in the long run. In short, composite fencing is durable, tidy, low-maintenance and stylish.
Chain Link Fencing
Chain link fencing provides security, durability and value without overwhelming your garden. This type of fencing is made from galvanised or PVC-coated steel, and it's impervious to rain, frost and UV rays. Chain link fencing is sturdy yet relatively lightweight, which makes the installation process straightforward.
Chain link has an open diamond mesh design that allows light and air to pass through, so your lawns, plants and grass won't sit in shade. Additionally, if you want more privacy, you can weave purpose-made slats through the mesh or plant climbers, such as ivy, jasmine or clematis and use the fence as a ready-made trellis.
Chain link is also highly adaptable; it can be stepped or tensioned to follow any slopes or curves in your garden, and it can also bend around trees, sheds and corners without needing the typical carpentry that panels often require. Additionally, since it’s modular, chain link fencing is extremely easy to repair.
Bamboo and Natural Material Fencing
Bamboo and other natural-material fencing, such as willow, hazel hurdles, reed or brushwood screens, add warmth, texture and sustainability to your garden in ways that manufactured options can rarely match.
Bamboo is one of the fastest-renewing plants on Earth, and coppiced willow or hazel can regrow from the same stool. Choosing these materials reduces your reliance on plastics and metals, and at the end of their lifespan, these plants are biodegradable, and they can be easily repurposed as a wildlife habitat, mulch or plant support structures.
Visually, bamboo’s clean stems provide a calm, contemporary look that pairs well with decking, gravel and water features, while willow and hazel hurdles can make a small garden feel like a cosy cottage.
Bamboo's irregular surface can break up long boundaries, soften hard edges and provide an excellent backdrop for plants and flowers.
Because they are semi-permeable, these fences also diffuse wind rather than block it, which helps reduce turbulence around your flower beds.
Ultimately, bamboo and other types of natural fences can add a mix of sustainability, beauty and practicality to your garden. They are renewable, easy to install and maintain and plant-friendly, which can make your garden feel lived-in and loved.
At Milton Keynes Fence Installation, we can design, supply, and install a range of timber, composite, metal, and natural fences in Milton Keynes. We can also install decking and gates for added protection and garden design. We aim to make your garden as safe and inviting as possible.