Enhancing the privacy of your garden can be as straightforward as setting up a fence. But if you’re on a tight budget, a conventional fence might be too costly, as the installation of a privacy fence can run up to $13,000. Thankfully, there are numerous budget-friendly fence options that can grant you the desired privacy without depleting your savings. Below, we’ve outlined our top six cost-effective fence ideas for privacy on a budget, along with installation instructions, maintenance advice, and estimated costs to help you plan accordingly.
Should your primary goal be just a touch of privacy without worrying about containing pets or boosting your yard’s security, bamboo panels are a superior choice. An 8-foot segment of bamboo privacy fencing will set you back roughly $150, plus the expense of posts and additional construction materials.
Despite there being even more budget-friendly alternatives, bamboo is perfect for small areas of a privacy fence, as it completely obscures the view into your garden while adding a chic touch to your outdoor space.
Pallets have long been a staple for DIY endeavors. Not surprisingly, they make an excellent choice for a low-cost privacy fence since they essentially serve as ready-made panels. Once assembled and securely anchored to the ground and each other, you’ve got a fence.
The best part is that you can often find pallets for free by exploring online marketplaces. Even if you opt for premium pallets, you can generally snag them for under $5 each, as businesses often have excess they wish to discard. Plus, if you’re not fond of the pallets’ appearance, you can dismantle them and use the wood, which is much cheaper than purchasing it from a hardware store.
Lattice screens offer a budget-friendly solution for a DIY privacy fence without straining your finances. An 8-foot section of 4-foot-tall pressure-treated lattice will cost less than $30.
When constructing a DIY privacy fence with lattice panels, remember to account for the cost of fence posts and structural elements. Lattice panels are not very sturdy, so ensure they are securely attached to something solid to avoid sagging, warping, or toppling.
To enhance both privacy and the aesthetics of a lattice panel fence, consider planting climbing plants along the base, which can then be trained to cover and climb the fence. Just ensure your posts are strong enough to bear the extra weight of the plants.
Planting a living fence made up of rapidly growing plants such as Arbovitae, English Laurel, Privet, Forsythia, Leyland Cypress, and the like is an effective and visually appealing method to boost your garden’s privacy. While mature, established plants can cost hundreds of dollars per plant, young saplings can be purchased for less than $20 each.
For maximum privacy from a living hedge, ensure that the plants are planted close enough so there are no gaps when they reach full growth.
If you have an abundance of trees that shed branches frequently, you’re in luck. Utilize these fallen twigs, sticks, and branches to create a dead hedge. Drive posts into the ground, then weave the sticks around the posts along your chosen path, pressing them down as you go.
Over time, you’ll develop a stunning hedge of branches that complements your outdoor area and enhances your property’s privacy. If you use branches for the posts, you can build this privacy fence at no additional cost.
Work with the branches while they are still flexible and pliable. Waiting until they dry can lead to breakage.
For a vintage, upcycled aesthetic, get imaginative with your privacy fence. Use upcycled materials such as old doors and windows, shutters, flooring, galvanized metal, barnwood, and more to craft the privacy fence you’ve envisioned. Often, these materials can be found for free, though you’ll need to purchase posts and other materials to support the fence structure.
If you’re seeking just visual privacy, construct a privacy screen by building a frame akin to a wooden swing set, then hanging your repurposed materials from the top with chains and hooks. Since these materials are not typically intended for outdoor use, you can extend their life by painting or sealing them with an outdoor-rated sealant and UV protector.
