Garden Fencing vs Hedging: Pros and Cons

Garden Fencing vs Hedging: Pros and Cons

Latticed garden fencing - header image

Whether you're moving into a new build or you're looking to improve an existing boundary that has deteriorated, the thorny (pun intended) question of fencing vs hedging is likely to come up. The options that are out there include fencing materials such as timber, concrete or composite materials, as well as natural fencing or boundaries made from bare root hedging.

Each option will have its own distinct advantages and disadvantages, and in turn the decision will be influenced by your individual circumstances: how much space you have, your budget, your main aims etc. Below we discuss some of the pros and cons of fencing vs hedging.

Beech hedging with gate

Pros of Garden Fencing:

Security
Secure fencing can give you peace of mind, as it will deter intruders from trying to access your garden. This can apply not just to humans but to animals - for example fencing can serve as an extra layer of protection against foxes if you have chickens. Some fencing will be more secure than others; pointed fencing is harder to climb over while smaller gaps between the slatting will be more difficult for small animals to squeeze through.

You may also want to keep animals in rather than out! Fencing can be a more secure solution if you have pets. Many dog rescues, for example, consider it a requirement for prospective adopters to have fencing of a certain height in case a newly adopted dog tries to escape. Even a seasoned ‘Houdini’ will find it difficult to get past a tall, sturdy fence.

Speedy Solution
With fencing you can almost instantly have a secure boundary around your garden or house. In many scenarios people might not have the time to plant bare root hedging and wait for it to get established to the point where it works as a natural boundary.

Privacy
People will have different expectations of privacy for their back garden; low-lying hedges or fencing will allow neighbours or passers by to see into your garden. Taller fences can restrict view; this can be particularly valuable if you have a backyard sauna, pool or you like to sunbathe. It can also be a good thing if you’re not a talkative type!

However bear in mind that taller, more closed fencing can also reduce the amount of sunlight - particularly when the sun is low in the sky.

Maintenance
Fences are typically more low-maintenance than hedging, which will require periodic pruning or cutting back. Just how low-maintenance they are will depend on the material. Timber fencing might need to be stained or painted, while metal fencing will last longer if you provide protection from rust.

Newer types of composite fencing are perhaps the most maintenance-free of all options, only requiring some occasional cleaning to keep looking their best.

Aesthetics
Both fences and hedging can double as both a demarcation of boundaries and as decoration.

You can choose from a wide range of styles or aesthetics when it comes to fencing panels and even posts. They don't have to be just functional in nature; there are some very attractive contemporary designs that can complement the appearance of your house or add visual character and interest to your outdoor space.

Alternatively you could opt for more rustic, traditional designs such as picket fencing.

Birkdale garden fencing with raised flower displays

Some types of fencing can secure your boundary while also allowing you to see in or out, while others are designed for privacy.

Cons of Fencing:

Wildlife Friendly?
Fencing can block off natural access points for hedgehogs, but you can mitigate this by creating ‘hedgehog highways’, i.e. by leaving or creating a gap in the fencing for access. For example, Durapost - whose fencing solutions we supply - have designed a ‘hedgehog hole’ fence addition that can be inserted into the gravel board without compromising the fence’s structural integrity in any way.

A 'hedgehog highway' hole at the bottom of a garden fence

Another thing you can do is combine fencing with greenery. If you have the space you can combine both hedging on one side and conventional fencing on the other. Alternatively you can practice some ‘vertical gardening’ by training climbing plants along the fencing or hanging felt pocket planters.

Can Sometimes Need Repair
Fencing can be damaged in adverse weather conditions, leading to the expense of repairs or replacement.

Less Environmentally Friendly
Fencing is obviously less sustainable than a natural barrier such as hedging. However, this can be mitigated by being conscious of the materials you use. Timber fencing can utilise wood from sustainably managed forests, while composite fencing can be made from more sustainable materials (DuraPost’s composite fencing panels for example are made from 70% recycled material).

Pros of Hedging:

Biodiversity
A boundary of hedging will be more beneficial for wildlife and biodiversity. Depending on the variety of hedging, it can provide shelter, food, sources of pollen or a nesting site for insects, birds and a variety of wildlife. In turn this can benefit your garden, as there will be a balanced ecosystem with natural predators keeping potential infestations in check.

Hedging can also serve as a natural corridor for hedgehogs. They can find their way through much easier, allowing them to pass from garden to garden as they look for mates or food (and allowing them to stay away from roads and their dangers).

An ornament peeking over a garden hedge

Noise Reduction
Environmental noise is an often underestimated cause of stress and other malaise, while airborne pollutants can cause all kinds of health issues, particularly over the long-term.

Depending on how tall or dense they are, hedges can be very effective at noise reduction or at absorbing pollutants or airborne particles. This is good news for anyone who lives near a busy road or in a bustling urban area.

Privet hedging beside road

25 x Oval Leaf Privet Bare Root hedging Plants

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Cost
Hedging can be a more cost-effective solution, typically working out around 50% cheaper. Often it will work out much cheaper to buy in bare root hedging than to install a fence around your property.

Aesthetics
A boundary of hedging can be more aesthetically pleasing, maintaining a natural appearance that seamlessly blends in your wider surrounds (or maybe not depending on where you live).

Hedging also provides plenty of seasonal interest and variety, with changing foliage and textures, fruiting berries and periods of flowering.

Natural Windbreak
Dense hedging can serve as a very effective natural windbreak, taking the bite out of winter winds and protecting vulnerable plants.

Cons of Hedging:

Required Maintenance
It will be necessary to prune hedging to keep it neat, especially if you already have a small outdoor area and you don’t want it to encroach further. This can vary depending on the specific type; pruning or maintaining may need to be undertaken 1-3 times a year. In some cases this can involve professional landscaping expenses.

Pruning a hedge with a telescopic pruner

Takes Time to Establish
Hedging can take time to grow to the point where it forms a boundary around your garden. If privacy or security is important and there is no current fencing around your property, you may need to go with a quicker solution. Otherwise you will need some patience and it may be necessary to employ some kind of temporary fence or barrier while you wait for hedging to grow and fill out.

Leylandii hedging is faster growing and screens effectively, but it can require a fair amount of maintenance and its roots can be intrusive/problematic.

Requires Space
Hedging is a more attractive proposition if you have a spacious outdoor area with clear boundaries between your vegetable garden and the outer edges of the overall space. However, if you only have a modestly-sized garden or outdoor area, hedging can create its share of problems.

The roots can grow a surprising distance, seeking out the fertile soil of your vegetable beds - at which point they will be hungrily competing for nutrients with your plants. It can also start to encroach into the space you yourself have to enjoy your garden. Some types of shrubs can also send up ‘suckers’ which can be very persistent and difficult to get rid of.

For these reasons fencing - with its defined and mostly unobtrusive footprint - can be a more sensible option for small urban gardens.

Madrid timber fencing panels

Keep Neighbours in Mind
It’s an unfortunate part of the human condition that neighbours can have different preferences when it comes to how their garden boundaries are demarcated. Hedging can encroach into neighbouring gardens, which may or may not cause bad feelings depending on how neat they like their space to be or whether they appreciate a bit of ‘wildness’.

In some cases, understated fencing can be the safer option in terms of keeping the peace.