How to Build a Garden Fence and Protect Your Plants in 8 Steps

Before you can start building your garden fence, you’ll need to use stakes to mark where the fence will go, particularly where the corners should be. To do this:

1. Choose where you’d like the four corners of the fence to go. Mark these spots with stakes that are about 2 feet high.

2. Use string to mark the fence perimeter from corner to corner until you have an enclosed space.

3. Use flags, spray paint, or other markers to determine where the post holes will go. Fence posts should be no longer than 8 feet apart, but for a shorter garden fence, you may want to decrease that distance to about 4 feet. 

With a shovel or rented auger (powered post hole digger), dig out the fence’s post holes. Here are a few important notes to keep in mind when digging your holes: 

• Your fence post should extend 1/3 of its length into the ground. For example, a 6-foot post should be 2 feet underground and 4 feet aboveground.  

• Leave extra room to add 6 inches of gravel to the bottom of the hole for drainage.

• Make sure the diameter of the post hole is three times wider than the diameter of the post. For example, a hole for a four-by-four post should be 12 inches in diameter. You’ll need the extra space to allow room for concrete when setting the post, which will make the garden fence sturdier.

Working one at a time, place a post into a hole and use a hammer or tamping bar to secure it into the ground. Before pouring your concrete, use a level to make sure that the post is perfectly vertical. Otherwise, your fence may end up looking like the leaning tower of Pisa. Mix an 80-pound bag of concrete for each post. 

From there, fill the hole with concrete and continue checking it with a level to ensure the post stays straight as you pour (you may need a second set of hands). Repeat until you’ve filled all the holes, then wait until the concrete has fully dried to continue building.

If you’d rather have a gap between the ground and the bottom of your fence, you can skip this step. But remember: Building a fence directly into the ground is a great way to keep pests from burrowing through. 

When you’re ready to start, dig a 1/2-foot deep and 2-foot wide trench all along the border of the fence. The trench should go on the interior side of the fence.

When your trench is good to go, measure the distance from one post to the next and use a miter saw to cut one-by-four wooden planks that will fit between those spaces. 

Place a rail into the trench and drill 2-inch exterior screws to attach it to the posts. Repeat until you’ve completely covered the bottom with rails in the trenches. Then, follow the same process, working all the way up the posts and attaching as many rails as you need (typically two for shorter fences or up to four for taller fences), taking extra care to ensure everything is perfectly straight.

You can use chicken wire or a fencing roll to make this step easy. 

1. Measure out exactly how much fencing you’ll need to cover any empty space between the posts and the railing. 

2. Use a brad nailer and 2-inch brad nails or a staple gun to fix the fencing roll or chicken wire to the wood, starting at one corner in the upper portion of the fence. Nail or staple the fencing about every 18 inches along the upper rail.

3. Once you reach the next corner, trim the excess wire with pliers and nail or staple it to the middle and lower rails. Repeat this process from corner to corner until you’ve reinforced the whole upper fence.

Then, you’ll repeat a similar process with the lower section of the fence in the trench, which is a crucial step if you want to keep burrowing critters at bay. 

1. Start at a corner and nail or staple the chicken wire or fencing roll into the post and bottom rail, working your way to the next corner. 

2. Make sure the fencing roll goes 1 foot into the trench and curves inward toward the posts to form a barrier. 

3. After repeating all along the fence, cover the trench with soil.

Before installing a gate, be sure to leave a 3/4-inch gap between each post so that the gate has enough room to open and close. 

1. Use a miter saw to cut the wood railing to fit within this space. 

2. Assemble the railing pieces into a rectangle using 2.5-inch pocket hole screws. 

3. With a jig, drill two holes into the tops and bottoms of each side piece. 

4. Use a brad nailer and 2-inch brad nails or a staple gun to attach chicken wire to the gate. 

5. Attach hinges and a latch to the gate and hang it from the posts.

Installing a gate, and especially keeping it level while doing so, can be tricky solo, so grab a buddy or a neighbor to help out. 

1. Place the gate in the opening, and have your helper hold the gate in place. 

2. Check that the gate is positioned correctly with a level.

3. Put the hardware in place, and use a pencil to mark where the screws need to go. 

4. Use a drill to create pilot holes. 

5. Attach the hardware to the gate and the fence post. The gate hinges should go on one side, and the lock and handle should go on the opposite side.

You’re now ready to enjoy your new garden fence.