DIYs for the Home

How to Build a Garden Fence; DIY Raised Garden Bed; DIY Cucumber Climbing Screen

My son Tyler (17 years old) built our garden fence himself. I put this post together with his help! Building a garden fence is something you can do, too. I will go through the steps he took to build it, as well as how he built the framed screen for cucumber plants to climb (our favorite part).

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Where the Love of Gardening Began

First let me give you a little background. My dad, their Pop, has always loved to garden. Because of this, when my boys were little he loved to show them how. Tyler especially was fascinated as a little guy.

The boys in the garden when they were little.
One year we tried to grow some corn from seed. We were so excited that it was successful!

Honestly, if it wasn’t for Pop’s example and Tyler’s interest, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with planting my own garden. Now I love it, too!

Years ago, after deer kept nibbling at our first attempts at gardening, my husband Tim decided to build a fence around it. Tyler was very excited to help build it.

Tyler building the first garden fence when he was younger.
Tyler when he was younger, helping to build our first garden fence. (I love the pencil behind his ear :))

Fast forward to several years ago when we had to take the first fence down. We were finishing the basement, including putting in egress windows in this spot, so the old fence was in the way. (You can read more about the basement reno and the egress windows here: https://lizzydesignsblog.com/basement-renovation-10-things-you-wont-regret-doing-when-finishing-a-basement/) This spot against the house is the only good spot for a garden, because it gets the best sun. (We have a lot of trees in the back!) So after the old one came down, we planned on putting a new one in between the two egress windows.

Tyler remembered a lot from helping to build the original fence, and even made some improvements he felt were needed. He did this whole project himself. I only helped him paint it 🙂

Building the Fence and Raised Garden Bed

The start of the garden fence, building the raised bed.

After having picked out this sunny spot and measured, he dug a trench where the frame would go to make a raised bed. Then he built the frame to put against the house using 2×10 pressure treated lumber. After making sure it was level, he filled in the dirt all around to make it secure.

Drilling in drainage holes

Because our last garden got a little flooded at times, he drilled in some drainage holes using a spade bit.

Attaching the balusters to the garden fence

On our old garden fence, we had used 2x2s, and Tyler wanted it to be sturdier. So this time he went with 2x4s for the entire frame and door. It looks and feels solid and great! It is 3 1/2 feet tall.

To break up the chicken wire and for the sake of appearance, he used 2×2 deck balusters (42 inches tall). In the picture above, you can see how he clamped them down in place first before screwing them in. They look so good!

Drilling in the screws to attach the balusters to the garden fence
The garden fence before painting it

Painting the Fence

Priming the garden fence

Using a foam roller and brushes, we primed one coat and painted one coat. I went with SW alabaster to match the trim on the house.

The paint we used on the garden fence
The type of paint I used, but in alabaster

Adding the Finishing Touches

Attaching the chicken wire
Attaching the chicken wire to the garden fence

He attached chicken wire with a staple gun and 9/16 inch staples. Also, lineman’s pliers was handy in case he needed to remove any staples, as well as wire cutters for the cutting the chicken wire to size.

Putting on the door handle
Attaching the door handle

Making the Cucumber Screen

Tyler picking cucumbers when he was younger from the cucumber screen

Above is a picture of Tyler when he was younger and our previous cucumber screen. They climb so high, and it’s a great use of space in a small garden to have one.

When designing this new one, he wanted it to be pretty big and sturdy. He built a frame with 2x4s, and made it 5×7 feet. He again used a staple gun to attach the wire to the frame, like he did with the chicken wire.

Building the cucumber screen

The grid wouldn’t fit across the whole frame, so he lay two pieces next to each other and crimped them together with pliers all the way down the middle.

If you make a screen like this that is leaning against a house or something else, make sure it is secured. We used a hook eye and latch on either side. That way it could easily be unhooked and taken down, if desired.

The finished garden fence and cucumber screen
All finished! Just waiting for everything to grow. (PS We started this project late in the season, but we’re still hoping to get something out of it this year!)
the finished garden fence and cucumber screen

I am so thrilled with it! We can’t wait to see it filled with green and veggies to pick!

(Edited to add photos of the cucumber plants climbing!)

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