More garden, more fence to check
A larger garden has more corners, more panels and more places for a gap to appear. Start at the back door and walk the full boundary, looking at each panel, post and board. Push on them to see if anything moves, and watch for rot at the base, since that is where timber fails first.
In Solihull the fence often runs along side access, a shared drive or a back boundary that you rarely visit. These forgotten stretches can deteriorate without anyone noticing. Dogs find them, though. Make a habit of checking the far end of the garden at least as carefully as the part near the house. Where a gate opens on to a drive or road, treat it as the most important part of the fence, because a mistake there matters far more than one at the back.
Panel height and jumping
Athletic dogs will take on a low panel, particularly if there is a raised bed, bench or woodpile to give them a boost. A taller panel makes the jump harder, but there are limits on boundary height, so check with your local council before building higher. This is general information, and the rules depend on the site.
With a large garden, you might choose taller panels only along the sections where the dog is likely to jump, such as beside a path or a neighbour's garden. Keep the zone near the fence clear of anything climbable, and inspect the top rail and fixings to make sure they are secure.
Boards, gates and digging
Gravel boards along the base close the gap under each panel. They should sit tight to the ground and be fixed firmly to the posts. In a big garden, the soil may be softer in places, and a dog that likes to dig will find those spots. Fill any hollows and press the soil down, or lay slabs against the board.
Gates on a larger plot may be heavy and wide, so they need stout posts and solid hinges. Fit a latch above the reach of small children and make sure the gate closes fully each time. A second bolt at the top adds security, and a quick check of the latch every time you let the dog out will catch most problems early. Walk the boundary again after strong winds, since panels on a long run catch the weather and posts can loosen without any sign from a distance.
Quick tips
- Check the far end of a large garden as carefully as the part near the house, because forgotten stretches fail first.
- Keep benches, bins and woodpiles away from the fence so they cannot act as a launch point.
- Fill hollows near the base of the fence and press them down firmly before a dog digs further.
- Use stout posts and strong hinges on wide gates, and fit the latch well out of a child's reach.
If you want your Solihull garden, in the B91, B92 and B93 area, made secure for children and dogs, call us or send a photo of the fence and its location. We also work in Shirley and Knowle, with no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts of a large garden fence get forgotten?
Far corners, side access and back boundaries you rarely visit can deteriorate unnoticed, and dogs find them. In Solihull, check the far end as carefully as the part near the house, and treat any gate opening on to a drive or road as the priority.
Do wide gates on a big plot need anything special?
Yes. They are heavy, so they need stout posts and solid hinges, a latch above the reach of small children and a catch that closes fully every time. A second bolt at the top adds security. Walk a Solihull boundary again after strong winds.
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