Though it depends on the person, private outdoor boundaries may be more or less important but they always play a key role in limiting space and the way we use it.

Our garden is like an outdoor living room, where we can breathe fresh air, hear birds chirping and even sunbathe. Thus, the concept of privacy is also important when it comes to the outdoors.

This is our guide to define your garden limits, from the typical fence to a beautiful hedge:

The wooden fence is one of the oldest ways to limit land and the garden, a durable, natural, beautiful and crowd-pleaser material. This is a very modern fence that guarantees all privacy and allows you to easily integrate climbing plants that embellish the garden.

Have you ever heard about wicker baskets? Well…they’re quite trendy again: very traditional, charming and stylish. The same structure can be applied to a very simple and natural fence. Do you like it? It’s something you can try to do yourself.

Part of the Portuguese vernacular architecture, natural stone walls are another very traditional example of fencing. In fact they feature a highly valued handcrafted and natural look, and in some cases they should be considered. It all depends on your taste, on space, whether you prefer an opaque or a transparent privacy fence.

Gabion walls are a more modern approach but still similar to the natural stone wall. What do you think?

From the more modern to the more traditional, iron railings can be very beautiful and also assure some transparency between the garden and the public areas.

Nowadays, there are several modern metal options.

A hedge is a very beautiful and pleasant option in a garden since it guarantees privacy and it is another element promoting biodiversity, among other advantages. You should consider some key points such as the ideal species for your garden and also the aesthetic and spatial properties that you want to achieve. Bear in mind this option requires some maintenance, plants are living organisms.

Amália Souto de Miranda
Landscape Architect