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Dressing up a Chain Link Fence

June 3, 2012

Chain Link Fence with FlowersA chain link fence is durable and long lasting. It is a great choice for defining property boundaries and keeping your children and pets safe. Unfortunately, the dull, utilitarian look of the metal can also look stark and unattractive. Here are some ideas for adding some charm to your chain link fence that will help it blend more seamlessly into your landscape.

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Using Perennials to Bring a Chain Link Fence to Life

Vines and climbers: The very structure of chain link makes it the ideal, ready-made trellis for vines and other climbing plants that twine or cling to supports. Perennial vines such as clematis and honeysuckle produce beautiful flowers, or you can go with vines grown primarily for their foliage such as Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) or English Ivy (Hedera helix).

Fruit trees: For an edible alternative, many varieties of standard, semi-dwarf, and dwarf fruit trees can be espaliered (trained to grow on a flat plane) and grown on chain link fences. Examples include apple, apricot, peach, nectarine, fig, persimmon, and pomegranate trees. The downside is that an espaliered fruit tree requires pruning at least two or three times a year to maintain its shape. The upside is fresh, edible fruits right from the fence. Fruit trees require full sun and good soil drainage, so your fence needs to be positioned appropriately.

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Skirt the bottom of your fence with clump-forming perennials, such as daylilies and irises, to help control weeds and reduce mowing and trimming tasks.

Six Annual Vines for Fences

Before you plant a perennial vine or espalier fruit tree near your chain link fence, it's a good idea to experiment with some annual vines first. You may even find that you prefer the flexibility of being able to play with different colors and amounts of coverage each year, rather than being stuck with plants that are permanent.

The following are examples of vines that have vigorous growing habits and often reseed themselves. Research how these plants respond to your particular growing zone, as a few may become invasive under the right conditions.

Black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata)
morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens)
scarlet runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

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sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab)

Painting a Chain Link Fence

Over time, chain link fences tend to rust and fade. One way to improve their appearance is to paint them black or dark green. Painting your fence will make it look less industrial and help it to blend more seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. A dark color like black or green will also help showcase your plantings. The best tool for painting a chain link fence is a deep pile paint roller and a medium brush for touch-ups and painting the posts and poles. Use a rust-inhibiting, self-priming paint for good coverage with just one coat. Plan on one quart of paint per 20 feet of standard 4-foot-tall fencing and follow the directions on the can for prepping the surface before painting.

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Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

May 10, 2007

I'm on a budget and I would like to know any inexpensive ideas on how to cover a chain link fence with panels of some kind. I do not want to use inserts as that would take too long. Someone told me to use shower curtains but I'm not sure. I want it to look nice as the neighbors can see it.



Thank you,
Erica from New Jersey

Answers

May 11, 20070 found this helpful

Indian Potatos are a kind of vine with heart shaped leaves that ive used which cover the entire fence and are beautiful. You dont see the fence at all. They die down each winter and grow back bigger and better every spring.

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Or you could use Ivy which lives thru the winter, or morning glories which also die off in winter. Im thinking you and your neighbors would really enjoy seeing greenery instead of something artificial. (smiles)

 
By Kelly (Guest Post)
May 12, 20070 found this helpful

Buy a packet of morning glory seeds. They will quickly grow and cover your fence with flowers and beautiful leaves. Leave them to go to seed in the fall and you will have even more next year.

 
By (Guest Post)
May 13, 20070 found this helpful

I found a pile of shutters on the side of the road and used them to provide privacy and cover our chain link fence in one spot. I just used zip ties to tie them to the fence. Another idea I had was to use old doors leaned on the fence. I just found the shutters first.

 
May 13, 20070 found this helpful

Check out the dollar stores for the table runners out of bamboo, sometimes you can find them at the evrything is a dollar store. I not sure how long or high your fence is, but you have had some really good ideas, if you have a green thumb, not brown like mine. Also saw on t.v. that old vinal window blinds, cut apart, made a table top, don't know why they wouldn't work to slip through the links .

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Go on to WWW.freecycle.com and if you are not a member join the one in your area and ask for some old blinds. Some of them are long. Wish you lived near me, I would give you some and probably your neighbors too, ha
Martha in TN

 
By km (Guest Post)
May 20, 20070 found this helpful

look at reed or bamboo roll fencing, they are available at lowe's now. They attach right on the chain link and are inexpensive.

 
By Bugman (Guest Post)
December 2, 20070 found this helpful

If you are in an area that is not affected by the wind a lot. Try plastic tarps. I use them on my 6" fence using 6 X 8 tarps attached with plastic zip ties.

 
By James (Guest Post)
July 30, 20080 found this helpful

Shower curtains and old doors are alright if you're opening a Sanford & Sons franchise. Coverage that actually looks decent includes trumpet vine, bougainvilla, oleander, morning glory, jasmine, concord grapes...

 
By Natasha79 (Guest Post)
October 1, 20080 found this helpful

We have a horrible chain link fence in the back (belongs to a neighbour). We bought barerrot Red Robin Hood Rose babies online, and planted them in the end of July this year. Right now, in September, they all are almost 4 feet tall bushes with beautiful flowers that have been blooming since August.

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They just took off so fast! We will be getting more in spring. They look amazing, grow very fast (supposed to be up to 7 feet tall), do not require much of care and tolerate sun, rain, and bad soil as well. Highly recommended.

 
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August 21, 2006

I have a 6x6 chain link dog pen. Any ideas on a way to dress it up so it looks nicer. I don't want to screen it entirely, I want the pup to see out when she's in it.



Valery from Cranford, NJ

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 228 Posts
August 22, 20060 found this helpful

we spray painted a regular higth chain link fence once with gold spray paint
-- but if you have a little cash to spend & a dollar store - maybe try some of the inexpensive garlands they have to weave into the fence. they have vines too & that just reminded me that we could have woven some of the same vines along the top foot or so of our dogs pen when we had her for some additional shade without the tarp or plastic being another thing to deal with & serve the same purpose

 
By vee (Guest Post)
August 23, 20060 found this helpful

I used mardi gras beads every year, its very colorful,but put them high enough for the dogs not to chew them.

 
September 23, 20060 found this helpful

how about a lattice surround, looks nice, but doggy ahould still be able to see!

 
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