New close-board fence with a gate, paved path edged in brick, and gravel borders with pots and a statue — Finished fence and gate beyond a paved path edged with brick and gravel

Small garden through a wooden pergola with hanging baskets, gravel, stepping stones and new fencing at the far end — Finished garden seen through the pergola, with hanging baskets and gravel borders

New fence panels on concrete posts beside a bare soil strip, with a fountain and a leaning panel in the gravel garden — New fence nearly complete, with bare soil along its base and a fountain beyond

Close-board fence with trellis tops beside gravel garden, with a wicker chair and pink roses in the foreground — Run of new panels with trellis tops on concrete posts beside the gravel garden

Wooden pergola with orange hanging baskets, pots and statues, and a clipped conifer hedge behind — Pergola and hanging baskets in front of an older trimmed conifer hedge

This Edgbaston project replaced the boundaries around a small, carefully planted town garden. The photos show new close-board panels with trellis tops on concrete posts, a new side gate, and the garden itself with its gravel, paving, pergola and hanging baskets. It is a tidy example of fencing done around planting.

Fencing a garden full of detail

A garden packed with pots, statues and borders leaves little room to work. The third and fourth photos show the fencing nearly done, with bare soil along the new panels, one panel still leaning against the planting and the garden's contents moved aside while the posts were set. Care is taken not to damage the planting.

The panels sit on concrete posts with stone-effect gravel boards at the bottom, so the timber stays off the soil and lasts better. A trellis top adds a little height while still letting some light through, which suits a small garden overlooked by a terrace. The look is neat from the house.

The finished boundary

The first two photos show the result. The close-board panels are a warm orange-brown, the gate hangs on black hinges beside the paved path, and the gravel borders and brick edging run neatly up to the fence line, with the pots and statues put back in place. It all sits together well.

The last photo looks the other way, to an older conifer hedge trimmed into shape beside the pergola, which was not part of the fencing. We can also deal with hedges beside boundaries. Check height limits with the council before going above a standard fence. We will happily advise on heights.