Split-Rail: A Garden Fence for all Seasons
We tend to think less is more when it comes to designing small spaces. I’ve found that to be true only part of the time. Take our tiny powder room for instance. Instead of choosing a minimalist design, I crowded the walls with art and even added a side table (now endearingly referred to as the “toilet table”). I won’t go so far as to say the design makes the space feel bigger, but it certainly adds more interest to an otherwise boring space.
I’ve also found the less is more idiom to be the wrong approach when working with small spaces in a landscape. Our house sits on a 7,900 square-foot lot which equals 0.18 acres so we’ve had to become pros at maximizing our landscape design in a small space.
Photo of our front yard from the 2015 real estate listing.
As you can see above, when we purchased the house in 2015, the front yard was entirely (crab) grass with only a few sparse foundation plantings. We worked tirelessly during the Covid quarantine last Spring to completely redesign the front landscape. You can read about installing the split-rail fence here and parterre beds here.
A view of the front yard form our master bath. June 2021.
Now that we have had the split-rail vegetable garden fence for a year, I wanted to post an update with photos of how it looks with various plants growing in. I’m completely enamored with the charm of the split-rail fence. And they seem to only get better with age!
I’ve found it really interesting that the addition of the split-rail fence, arches lining the pathway, and parterre beds on the left make the front yard seem surprisingly more spacious. Bunny Williams has a terrific book called On Garden Style with numerous sections on fencing and garden structures. Along with our evergreen trees and shrubs (Arborvitae Green Giant, Boxwood, Holly, etc.) the split-rail fence, arches, and an obelisk provide year-round interest and a terrific backdrop for plantings.
Outside of the vegetable garden plants from left to right: Pure Perfume Rose, Endless Summer Hydrangea, Munstead Wood Rose, Endless Summer Hydrangea. Two Allium Mount Everest are tucked in the bed as well.
I can’t decide if I like the hydrangea or the roses more along the split-rail fence!
Here is David Austin Munstead Wood a few weeks ago. This rose has the most beautiful velvety petals and a delightful fragrance!
Munstead Wood Rose and Endless Summer Hydrangeas along the fence. Incrediball Hydrangea in the background!
The hydrangea are looking particularly well this year. This is without-a-doubt attributed to the installation of a drip irrigation system from Lowes. Last summer, I spent hours every morning watering all of the hydrangea. Not only was it a massive time suck, but watering via hose is not nearly as efficient in terms of water consumption. The drip irrigation is on a timer that automatically waters for 30 minutes at 8AM and again at 3PM. Each hydrangea receives 1 gallon of water per day. On particularly hot days, I will run it a third time.
I fertilize the hydrangea with Espoma Holly-Tone and Espoma Soil Acidifier to turn the Endless Summer Hydrangea Blue. (This only worked for some of the hydrangea. I need to add more to others that are still pink!)
While the landscaping is thriving mid-June, the split-rail was equally as lovely in the winter and spring.
Structure is crucial to a landscape in the winter months. The snow-covered split-rails are something out of a story book!
I planted nearly 1,000 bulbs in the fall. April rewarded me with a stunning tulip display that more than satisfied my yearning for fresh flowers after a very snowy winter!
Narcissus Actaea at the base of the stairs are my absolute favorite daffodil. They are very fragrant!
I’ll leave you with a final photo. David Austin Sombreuil climbs on either side of each arch along our central pathway. It’s stunning May flush looked especially enchanting at dusk. A lack of space to extend the garden outwards challenged me to extend the garden upwards! These arches certainly helped me accomplish that.
I hope this post will inspire you to add structure to your landscape! There is no shortage of options with fencing, arches, obelisks, bird baths, pots, etc. All you have to do is start!
