I've tried chicken wire before, and honestly, rust wasn't my biggest issue—it was my terrier's determination. She treated it like a personal escape room challenge. Ever thought about using decorative garden fencing instead? It looks decent, tends to be sturdier, and saves you the hassle of burying bricks or dealing with rust. Plus, it fits nicely with older homes—I speak from experience here. Can't promise it'll stop a spaniel though...they're crafty little masterminds.
"Ever thought about using decorative garden fencing instead? It looks decent, tends to be sturdier, and saves you the hassle of burying bricks or dealing with rust."
Decorative fencing is definitely a step up from chicken wire—I tried it myself last summer when my labradoodle decided my flower beds were her new favorite digging spot. It worked pretty well at first, but then she figured out she could just jump over it (seriously underestimated her athleticism). I ended up getting creative and planting some taller shrubs behind the fence, which seemed to discourage her enough to move on to other mischief.
Honestly though, I think part of the fun of renovating and gardening is finding these little creative solutions that blend function with aesthetics. I've seen some really cool setups where people use reclaimed wood pallets or even vintage shutters as garden barriers. They look charming and rustic, especially if your home has that older vibe you mentioned. Plus, they're usually sturdy enough to withstand a determined pup.
Has anyone experimented with natural barriers like hedges or thorny bushes? I'm considering something like holly or barberry bushes next year—beautiful foliage and built-in dog deterrent sounds like a win-win. But I'm curious if anyone's had success (or epic fails) going this route...
I planted barberry bushes along the edge of my garden two years ago, thinking they'd be a natural deterrent. Worked great until my terrier discovered he could squeeze underneath...ended up adding some low decorative fencing behind them. Looks nice though, so no regrets.
I've considered barberry bushes myself, but worried about maintenance—heard they can get pretty dense and thorny over time, making pruning a bit of a hassle. Your decorative fence sounds like a neat solution though, especially since it complements the bushes visually.
A few months back, I installed some chicken wire behind my boxwood hedges to keep my beagle out. Worked fine at first, but now the wire is sagging in spots and looking messy. Thinking of upgrading to something sturdier and more attractive—maybe wooden lattice panels or something similar?
Curious how your decorative fencing is holding up over time...has it stayed sturdy enough to withstand your terrier's attempts, or did you need extra reinforcement?
I went with lattice panels myself about a year ago, and they've held up surprisingly well. My lab mix tried digging around them at first, but once he realized they weren't budging, he lost interest pretty quickly. Plus, they look way nicer than chicken wire ever did—especially now that some ivy has started climbing up. Have you thought about adding climbing plants too, or would that be too much upkeep?
