Security

• If security is a concern, your garden fence can serve as the bulwark protecting the fruits of your labor. Installing spikes in the fence can serve to dissuade people from climbing over the fence. The height of the fence can vary. If you have it at least 6 feet tall, with even taller spikes, you can create a barrier that will be far too challenging for someone to attempt climbing. Of course, you may also be building a fence to keep your own children or pets within the confines of your yard. If that's the case, make sure that the fencing is safe for them, and that gates are easy to lock for you, but hard to unlock for them.
  
  

Decorative

• If the purpose of the fence is mostly decorative, then you have options. You can use bamboo, dried vines woven together, twigs or other materials. You can even add cute details like wind chimes at each corner, such as bamboo wind chimes that can bring luck to your garden. Or, you can add solar lights at each corner that illuminate the garden at night. You can also create fanciful post tops for each corner or every post our of twigs, sticks or other materials. You can also consider painting your fence for a bright splash of color and to make an attractive background for your flowerbeds or patio.
  
  

Purposeful Fencing

• Solid fencing, such as wood panels, offers privacy as well as a barrier to prevent people or animals from entering. If your concern is mainly deer, then page wire fencing that's 6 feet or more tall will serve this purpose well. If your concern is for animals that can dig beneath fences, like moles or rabbits, then you should make a fence that not only extends above the ground but below it. For these animals, dig down about 3 feet and having the bottom of the fence start there. For the rest of the fence, make sure any gaps are small to prevent small animals from gaining access to your garden by squeezing between them. Consider fencing that goes underneath the soil if you have a neighbor's dog that digs under your fence, or if your own dog does.
  
  

Consider the Elements

• If you live in a windy area, then you need to take into consideration the strength your fence needs to be to withstand the wind's force. Concrete reinforcement, such as footings at each corner in which the corner posts are embedded, might be in order. When choosing fencing materials, bear in mind the elements as well as maintenance. While wood is attractive, it does require some maintenance, may need replacing eventually, and is prone to fire and rotting.