A few centuries ago, our ancestors made of sharp wooden stakes created a reliable and beautiful fence - a picket fence. Today, this functional protective structure is once again becoming popular in suburban construction. The palisade is an ideal addition to the site with elements of "ethno" decor or decorated in a "rustic style". In addition to the decorative appeal, a log fence serves as an excellent protection against attacks by unwanted guests. To break such a fence is beyond the power even of strong men with remarkable abilities. The palisade is a great alternative to traditional concrete, brick or metal defenses. A palisade can be erected in just a few days, and a wooden fence will last for several decades.
We prepare materials for construction
The palisade is assembled from cylindrical wooden logs having the same trunk diameter. Since today the owners of suburban areas do not need to defend behind a powerful picket fence from enemy attacks, it’s enough to use logs with a diameter of 10-15 cm to equip the fence.
The height of the logs is determined taking into account the purpose of the enclosing structure. For an external fence that reliably protects against the penetration of thieves, logs with a height of not less than 2 meters will be required. For the arrangement of internal fences, delimiting the area of the site and protecting domestic animals, small logs half a meter high are suitable.
So that the logs do not stagger in the wind and are securely fastened, they must be deepened. It is possible to fix the logs on a transverse beam raised above the ground, which is fixed on the supporting poles of the enclosing structure. In this case, the logs will not be buried and will be placed above the ground in full growth.
Determining the height of the product, it should be borne in mind that with the traditional method of arranging, 1/3 of the height of the barrel will go to the construction
When choosing material for the fence, it is necessary to focus primarily on the quality of logs
Savings here are not appropriate: the service life of the entire structure depends on the quality of the product. Therefore, it is better to spend more, but get a fence that will definitely last a couple of decades, than to save and buy a fence for only 2-3 years. The surface of the logs in cross section should not have any recesses and protrusions. A distinctive feature of the stockade is pointed tops.
A sharpened log resembles a large, pointed, simple pencil. Sharpen the logs at an angle of 35-40 ° with the help of an ordinary small hatchet.
Processing and protecting logs
In the traditional method of arranging a stockade, part of the log will be buried in the ground, this is fraught with rotting wood. An unprotected tree will fall into disrepair in 2-3 years and collapse, and the protective structure will have to be completely replaced with a new one. To extend the life of the stockade, our ancestors processed the lower part of the stakes by carbonization on a fire. The result was a charred 15 cm peel, which prevented the destruction of wood. Not only a part of the log buried in the ground was subject to carbonization, but also a section of the trunk 20-25 cm above the ground. This simple procedure will not only protect the wood from decay, but also protect it from parasites.
Today, a simpler method of protective wood processing is used. Before digging, the bottom of each log is dipped in hot bitumen.
Related article: Overview of the means to protect wood from moisture, fire, insects and rot
Stockade construction process
The traditional way of arranging the stockade looks like this: the pointed lower end of the logs is stuck in the ground, then a little water is poured into the hole and the same pole is re-stuck. Screw the log until it is firmly fixed in the soil. To facilitate the process, use a heavy hammer, but work with it extremely carefully so as not to damage the integrity of the logs. Some builders, in order to protect the stakes from chips and cracks, put protective plastic caps on hammers.
The modern version of the construction of the stockade provides for the construction of a trench half a meter deep
The bottom of the trench is covered with 20-30 cm of sand or gravel "pillow". After that, stakes are placed close to each other on it, preventing the formation of gaps between them. The trench is covered with a layer of earth and carefully rammed. To increase the efficiency of tamping, the soil should be watered. It is possible to increase the reliability and strength of the enclosing structure by additionally using two horizontal crossbars made of thick timber. They are placed parallel to each other: the lower one at a height of 20 cm from ground level, and the upper one - 20 cm below the tops of the stockade.
At the final stage of arranging the fence to make the picket more natural, it is desirable to treat its surface with transparent varnish, a primer or wood stain
Tip. Using a different concentration of stain, you can increase the decorative effect of the fence, staining it in honey-golden or brown-chocolate shades.
Decorative option - wicker picket fence
To stylize the interior space of the site, you can use a wicker picket fence.
A beautiful wicker fence will not only serve as a fence for paths and flower beds, such an element of landscape design will rightfully become a real "highlight" of the decor
Some of the main advantages of wicker fences include:
- Environmental friendliness. When arranging wattle, only natural components are used that are not harmful to human health.
- Decorativeness. Multilevel wicker fences look interesting in any corner of the site: as miniature fences for mixborders, as elements of zoning of the territory, and even as a full-fledged high fence.
- Ease of construction. Even a novice gardener can master the technique of weaving a fence.
For the manufacture of such a fence, you can use the branches of a flexible vine, hazel, willow and even oak or pine.
Material for wattle harvested in the fall. At this time, the sap flow in plants is inhibited and growth stops. For work, branches 1-3 cm thick are best suited
When deciding to equip a wicker fence on the site, it is necessary to mark the territory. At a designated place, a shallow trench is excavated, which is filled with a layer of sand. Such a sand cushion will provide drainage, thereby preventing the buried part of the stakes from decaying.
After that, you can drive small stakes, placing them at a distance of half a meter from each other. The base is ready, we can start weaving.
Tip. To give the branches greater flexibility, they can be pre-soaked for a couple of days in warm water. To extend the life of stakes and branches, they must be treated with an antiseptic.
Weaving begins from the lower tier. The technology is quite simple: it is necessary to take the rods in turn from the opposite sides of the stakes and stretch them all the way. As necessary, short rods are lengthened, while long ones are cut with pruning shears.
