Types of Lawn Fences

Privacy Fence

• Closely fitted fence posts and vision-blocking materials allow a tall wooden or vinyl fence to provide privacy. With no gaps between the panels of material, visitors or neighbors can't see into your yard. A privacy fence also hides any unattractive parts of your property. Privacy fences are usually built over 6-feet tall because they serve little use if someone simply looks over the fence instead of through it. Wood, metal and vinyl are the most common materials for this type of lawn fencing.

Decorative Fence

• White picket fences, ornamental wrought iron and other decorative fencing outlines your property while improving its visual appeal. Tall wrought iron fences allow you to see through them but provide some measure of security. A decorative fence serves double duty if it runs to the ground or is tall enough to deter humans and animals from entering your property. A short, classic picket fence doesn't offer much security but adds a charming and traditional touch to your lawn.

Functional Fence

• Functional fencing is designed to keep in pets and children while keeping other animals and people out. A basic chain-link fence does the job well if it is properly reinforced. Dogs often dig under chain-link fencing that stops at the ground, so burying it below ground provides additional safety. Locked gates and tall fences prevent children from wandering the neighborhood or falling into a pool and keep strangers from accessing your yard.

Electric Fence

• Most homeowners have little need for an electric fence, but it may be the only option for keeping nuisance animals away from a garden. Properly grounded electric fences are relatively safe, says the Sustainable Farming Connection, provided you check the insulators and other safety devices regularly. A small charge shocks any deer, rabbits or other animals who touch it without harming them. Electric fences shouldn't be used for containing pets or children, and everyone in your family should know how to shut off the fence in case of an emergency.