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The fence debate that made me question my whole backyard plan
Last week my neighbor Gary stopped me while I was pulling weeds along the property line. He said I was wasting my time building a cedar privacy fence when I could just plant a row of arborvitae for half the cost. He quoted me $600 for trees versus the $1,800 I already spent on materials. At first I got defensive, but then I thought about how my fence blocks the afternoon sun from my vegetable beds. Gary's trees would let light through for years until they grew tall enough. But my fence gives me total privacy right now, and I need that because my dog barks at every passerby. Is anyone else torn between instant results and the cheaper long game in their yard? How did you decide?
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andrew_kelly21d ago
Fence first, always, then let the arborvitae grow behind it later if you still want the green. The dog's barking and your need for privacy right now outweighs any savings, because a frustrated neighbor isn't going to help you prune trees. You can always take the fence down in ten years when those trees fill in, but you can't speed up a tree's growth.
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