This is for the back yard? I always like brick posts with wrought iron fences between the posts. Stunning look, but for the back yard, who is going to see it? Sometimes when you are on a budget, you need to worry more about what works best for you and worry less about what the rest of the world thinks. Your neighbors would probably rather have your dogs fenced in your yard than have them roaming everywhere. You could formal up the look of split rail by planting climbing roses or training pyracantha along the top rail. One home in our town has that look. On holidays, they put pumpkins on the posts, or lights. The look isn't "formal," but it's pretty breathtaking to drive past that house. You don't say what planting zone you live in. Go to your profile and put that zone in there. This will help us help you. Suzi

I would definitely go with the picket fence(the negative curve one is lovely too), I think it fits with the rest of the atmosphere and would keep your gorgeous pup in. I just have to say, I absolutely LOVE your garden, its just beautiful. May I ask what flowers are spilling out of the window box in the second picture of your very first post? I've been looking for something just like that for my window box and nothing has seemed to fit the bill, TIA!

Fence costs are catch-as-catch-can. If the landlord neighbor didn't want to pay for the fence when it was built, nothing you can do about that. You either pay for the fence and make it yours, or don't put it up. If you want a fence that bad, you pay for it. It's certainly not fair to demand payment later when someone else moves in. It's very common to set back fences 6" in my city. I don't know if it's a requirement. I do know it's common for adverse possession to only apply if someone is squatting without permission. IF the fence regulations already require a setback, I can't imagine an adverse possession case getting any traction based on the fact that the fence was built to code. Even if there's no setback requirement, you may still be protected if you specifically allow someone to use YOUR land, as in giving a neighbor permission to use the 6" strip. Or, if you specifically prohibit it. "Squatter's rights" to land usually apply when the neighbor used it and the owner knew about it and did nothing. Our neighbors accidentally put a block wall raised bed a few inches past the line. They moved. The new neighbors brought it to my attention and I said they didn't have to remove the entire wall on my account (it's only 4 feet long anyway). I gave them permission to encroach on my property with their wall. It's still my property and will remain so. Of course, it should really be in writing because if it ever goes to court, there's no documentation, but in my case it's a de minimus condition, and we get along fine with the neighbors.

I would plant the catmint "underneath" the fence so it looks good from both sides of the fence. I would plant enough to make an edge like the above picture. I suppose if you want to add the climbing rose you could do so but i'm not sure you need it. I have a split rail fence and i also am planning on planting catmint as seen above. I love my catmint i have in my yard. it's beautiful land drought tolerant. I suggest maybe adding it to your other flowerbed as well.