Vines trained on lattice soften the vertical or diagonal lines.
Due to its low price point and some haphazard installation, lattice gets a bad reputation as a cheap, inferior material to use around the home -- but lattice can look appealing when installed with attention to detail. Lattice sheets are quite flimsy and do not make good fencing material alone, but they can make a sturdy and attractive fence when installed with strong posts and horizontal rails.
Solid Lattice Fencing
A fence using solid lattice sheets as fencing panels is one of the cheapest wooden fencing options because lattice costs considerably less than fence pickets. The spacing between the intersecting wood or plastic strips -- usually measuring about 2 inches across -- provides partial privacy while still allowing sunlight and a view through the holes. The resulting fence with diamond- or square-shaped holes serves the same function as see-though chain-link fencing, but the wooden cross strips provide a more natural look. In order to increase the sturdiness of the fence, you should install horizontal top and bottom rails and attach a sheet of lattice on each side of the rails with the holes lined up to give the look of a single, thick panel.
Privacy Extender
Stockade fences with solid panels that let no light pass through are intended to provide complete privacy to your yard, but your existing fence might be too short to block your neighbor's view, especially if your house sits downhill from your neighbors'. Instead of replacing the fence with longer pickets, you only need to extend the height of the fence posts, add horizontal rails, and attach a short lattice pieces to extend the height of the fence. Stagger the joints of the two lattice pieces to better block the view.
Living Fence
Lattice might be more affordable than alternative fencing options, but the look might not be for everyone. After installing a fence of solid lattice panels, you can plant vigorous flowering vines along the fence row so they can climb on the fence and conceal the lattice. Similarly, you can plant vines to fill in lattice installed above a stockade fence. Try star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides), a tropical vine hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, which features star-shaped flowers with a fragrance similar to true jasmines (Jasminum spp.) If you prefer bright colors, try "Jackmann" clematis (Clematis "Jackmanii"), which features 5 to 7 inch diameter, deep-purple flowers. "Jackmanii" clematis grows in USDA zones 4 through 8. There are many fruiting and flowering vine options to cover a lattice fence.
Low Border Fence
Low border fences define the boundary of flower beds and can help protect them from accidental trampling or destructive mowing. You can use lattice to construct a border fence at a fraction of the price of pre-fabricated options. The border fence should measure about 6 to 12 inches long, depending on the plant height within the garden. You can easily cut a 4-by-8-foot lattice panel down to the desired height, using a circular saw for precision cutting. The lattice must be attached to wooden stakes measuring 12 inches longer than the desired fence height. After driving the stakes 12 inches in the ground -- using a rubber mallet or hammer -- you can attach the lattice to the stakes with wood staples.
About the Author
A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites.
Photo Credits
Allonsy, Amelia. "Lattice Fence Ideas." Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/lattice-fence-ideas-75479.html. Accessed 05 May 2019.
Allonsy, Amelia. (n.d.). Lattice Fence Ideas. Home Guides | SF Gate. Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/lattice-fence-ideas-75479.html
Allonsy, Amelia. "Lattice Fence Ideas" accessed May 05, 2019. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/lattice-fence-ideas-75479.html
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