Fencing an Elevated Front Yard
Elizabeth Schiller
7 years ago
My house sits on a slight elevation with an upward slope between the sidewalk and where the lawn levels off, similar to the first photo. I would like to enclose at least part of the front yard with a short metal fence (like the second photo). Should I run the fence alongside the lowest part of the slope, nearer to the sidewalk, or should I run the fence across the top of the slope and enclose only the flat portion of the yard?
I intend to plant easy to maintain landscaping on the slope itself, with the goal of not mowing the slope either way. The fence along the bottom of the elevation would contain more of the yard, but would make it more challenging to tend to the landscaping at the bottom of the slope. Running the fence along the top of the elevation would mean we have a well-defined even and rectangular yard within the fence, but I am concerned it would make the yard feel really small. The second and third photos are examples of garden styles I liked on opposite sides of a short front yard fence.
Thanks, in advance, for any thoughts!
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Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoElizabeth Schiller thanked Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)Related Discussions
Front yard - Natural Fencing Desired
Comments (12)This vine was pretty thin/delicate and did a nice job covering the fence; we loved it. I was just so devastated because I was expecting to have an almost entirely covered fence this year, and I'm frustrated about starting over. But maybe I'm still just in the mourning phase. Yardvaark, you do make a good point about the continued blooming - I guess my hope now is that if the pruning isn't a problem, then I can continue to do that in small areas to encourage continued flowering. But, do you have any recommendation on what I could do instead? My budget is pretty limited....See MoreWhat fencing would you use for the front yard?
Comments (27)I like fences similar to this one for a number of reasons. http://www.aandjfencing.com/redwood-fencing/ The fence is solid where you would need it most for privacy. The most visible boards are vertical, which look nicer than horizontal (less of a cage look). The fence has a lattice or otherwise open space the top that would accord some privacy but not block all the breeze -- and provides a "finished" look to the fence; It has a single solid horizontal board at the bottom between each post -- which you would want to be treated lumber. The bottom of a fence is usually the first to have problems. With a single horizontal board or, better yet a 4"x4" post, beneath the vertical boards, keeping that board treated (CWF) or painted and/or replaced as needed can extend the life of the fence overall....See MoreFront yard Privacy fence
Comments (9)I would find that area a bit too open for sitting. How about a two sided free standing pergola structure - you could make the area beside your neighbor a bit more closed than the part that faces the front area. Each side could be as high or low as you feel you need to block the views you don't want, but still provide a view to your landscaping. Then add just a bit of something over the top for a feeling of enclosure....See MoreFront yard fence variance San Diego
Comments (21)I think it's the case that you're as easily able to create good aesthetics without the fence, as you are with it. Adding it means paying attention to another set of design considerations. People do things all the time thinking that they are creating more beauty, when in fact, they are creating more ugliness, and sometimes an expensive clean-up process. Not saying that would be the case here, but just noting that it's always a possibility, since we can't know how you'd do every detail, and ultimately that's what would matter. Having dogs that spend time in the yard is a commonplace situation. Mostly, they are either relegated to the back yard where the tall fencing is permitted, or they are able to be kept in the front yard by 4' fencing. I don't think the city or the neighborhood in general, will agree that having a special breed of dogs that can't be contained in the front yard by 4' height fencing, is worth granting a variance for. Security for the occupants of the house is a separate matter. Not having any idea of the crime trends of your neighborhood, can't begin to predict if you can make a good enough case for additional security fencing. But maybe you can. Every so often, general ways of doing things change and it all starts with a single case that sets precedent. In the early 70s, it was not common for fathers to be allowed in the delivery room while their child was being born. That they are allowed and expected to be there is now the rule. Even if you end up not being able to get a variance for fencing, there are other ways of addressing the privacy issue. Governments as a rule don't seem to have any objection to your creating privacy with plants, thus the use of tall trimmed hedges where someone doesn't want the outside world looking. You probably already know that there is a non-refundable fee assessed for seeking a variance and a hearing. Check to see what it is in order to figure out if it would be worth it to you if the variance was not granted. I've acquired a few variances along the way, every one for which I applied, but in each case they were based on need such that the homeowner would either needlessly suffer a hardship if the variance wasn't granted, and/or they would inadvertently cause other people (neighbors) problems if forced to comply with the regular rules. The variances were for front yard parking....See MoreElizabeth Schiller
7 years agoElizabeth Schiller
7 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoElizabeth Schiller thanked Kim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)Elizabeth Schiller
7 years agoElizabeth Schiller
7 years ago
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