Bamboo Fencing

Bamboo fencing is a new age idea that has become quite popular with those who want a Zen like environment around their house. Bamboo is a fairly strong, extremely light fence that is very picturesque to look at. A bamboo fence is primarily used to beautify a property or to provide privacy. Though it is a fairly strong fence, you wouldn’t want to use it for physical protection against intrusion from animals or trespassers as it can be taken down with a reasonably easy amount of force.

Below, we have discussed the many styles of bamboo fencing that you can incorporate into your property.

Types of bamboo fencing

Split cane bamboo fencing

This is the most basic form of bamboo fencing that you can buy. It is quite cheap, at least in comparison to the other types of bamboo fences, and can be used for fence lines that are not very symmetric. These fences are usually sold in rolls, thereby allowing you to use them even if your fence line has a zigzag pattern to it. To use the fence, simply install a fence post at strategic positions and then use some wire to secure the rolls at the junctions where they meet the post.

Such fences are usually a good idea for small gardens that need a fence that looks a little attractive. Though a split cane bamboo fence is not the top of the line bamboo fence, it is much better looking than a chicken wire fence that people would usually use for small gardens or small spaces.

Bamboo stick fence

While the basic split cane fence mentioned above uses raw canes, a bamboo stick fence will use bamboo sticks that have been processed for size. These fence sticks will have more uniformity and will also have been treated with a waterproof sealant. Generally, such fences are made in such a way that the sticks are fairly close to each other, offering a lot of privacy.

It is not uncommon for people to buy a bamboo stick fence panel to use over a chain link fence. Of course, this type of fence can be used as a standalone fence as well, when the panels are connected to fence posts along the fence’s perimeter.

Bamboo panel fences

Bamboo panel fences are the best looking bamboo fences of all. Manufacturers who make these panels will make use of identical bamboo sticks that are squeezed into a panel, with reinforcements at the top and bottom, giving you a fence that is very secure and also one that offers you a lot of privacy. Unlike the split cane bamboo fences and the bamboo stick fences that use wraps to hold the slats in place, a bamboo panel will make use of slats that are individually glued or nailed onto the supporting bars that run at the top and bottom of the panel.

Traditional bamboo fences

Bamboo fences became popular in the western world after people noticed how they were able to beautify gardens in Japan, where bamboo fences are traditionally used. There are some westerners in the U.S. who shop for traditional Japanese patterns when they select a bamboo fence.

A few of these patterns are discussed below.

Kenninji bamboo fence

This type will give you a fence that will use a green shade of bamboo, thereby giving your fence a living look. It is very popular as a fence around yards, especially among people who want their property to look very green and blended in with nature. Even the materials used to tie the green slats together are materials that were extracted from the bamboo plant, thereby giving you a fence that is completely organic in nature.

Ryoanji fence

These fences are the Japanese version of picket fences. They are often quite low in height, being just about 3 or 4 feet tall. They generally use a lattice like pattern and don’t offer a lot of privacy. People usually use them as hand rails or just as decorative fencing to separate various areas of a garden.

Otsu fence

An Otsu bamboo fence is a very lightweight fence that uses bamboo that is weaved onto the fence panel, in a crisscross pattern. One can use such fences to get a lot of privacy, while also allowing just a little bit of light to pass in. The light will pass in through a hundred different small gaps although the gaps will be small enough to prevent a passerby from looking into the fence, unless they are really crouched and looking into your property.

Some of these fences can be painted while most of them come in the natural bamboo color, usually brown or green. You will generally be able to choose the level of privacy that such fences will be able to offer.

How to clean bamboo fences?

Now, you might think that bamboo fences will require some special form of cleaning. It is not exactly true as maintenance of a bamboo fence is fairly simple. You can wash it just like any other wood fence out there.

First, use a garden hose to spray down the entire fence, preferably with some pressure that will be strong enough to knock off all the loose dirt that is on the surface of the fence. Then, use a bucket of water and some detergent along with the sponge to just wipe down the fence slats, from top to bottom. If you want to really give your fence a thorough cleaning, remove the slats and clean them individually. This will however require you to remove the wraps that hold the slats together and then also put them back. It is fairly easy to do once you get the hang of it.

Once you have soaped down the fence, use the garden hose again, to remove the soap from the fence. Once this is done, use a good quality sealant or stainer to coat the entire bamboo fence.  It is quite important that you do this at least once every year or so, if you want your bamboo fence to last.