Fencing Installation Guide
Are you looking to give your garden an instant makeover? With an appealing and rustic look, hurdle fencing can do just that. Our willow and hazel hurdle fence panels are made from high quality, ethically sourced materials that are handwoven, giving them a unique natural style to enhance any garden. Follow our easy step by step method below and watch our ‘How to Install Hurdle Fencing’ video for a useful guide.
How to Install Hurdle Fencing
Step by Step Method:
- Using 2 posts per hurdle, place them beside your hurdle with one at each end and make sure they’re driven firmly into place. For this, you can use a post mount, or use a synthetic product such as Quikset for a fast, clean and safe alternative to traditional concrete.
- You can then attach the hurdle to the posts using galvanised wire or screws.
- Reinforce the strength of the hurdles by attaching a further stake behind one of the vertical columns.
- If you wish to install the hurdles so that they curve, make sure to soak them in water for maximum flexibility for a few hours beforehand. This will prevent the sticks from snapping. Please note, you may need to use more stakes to keep the curve taught.
Looking After Your Hurdles
Willow and Hazel hurdles don't require too much maintenance to keep them in tip top condition. However, if you’re not going to be using them immediately, it’s important to store them in a dry area where they have adequate airflow. This will prevent mould from forming.
There’s no need to apply any treatments to your hurdles. If you leave them as they are, they’ll adopt an attractive, rustic grey hue. Alternatively, you can use a water based preservative readily available from your local hardware shop to keep them looking new for longer.
Why Choose Willow or Hazel Hurdles?
Willow or Hazel hurdles create a rustic, natural look in any outdoor space, and are particularly useful as a more unique garden fence. Due to the woven construction of the hurdles, they allow a small amount of air to pass through, creating the perfect wind break and ensuring a gust of wind won't knock down your lovely fencing!
Shop Garden Fencing at Primrose
Robust, beautiful and eco-friendly, hazel and willow hurdles are ideal for the traditional English country garden and allow gardeners to create a unique, natural look for modern urban spaces. Here you’ll find a selection of garden fencing styles to choose from including framed hurdles, bunch willow, split hazel and all the posts and fixings you could need to fit your hurdles firmly in place.
Fencing FAQs
What are willow and hazel hurdles?
Woven hazel hurdles and willow hurdles are perfect for anyone wanting practical, natural-looking garden fence panels. These hurdles require minimal maintenance and will look great for years to come. The way in which the branches have been woven means that air diffuses through the hurdle fencing instead of just being blocked. This makes the fence panels ideal for exposed areas, where other fences may be blown over in strong winds.
What is the difference between willow and hazel?
A garden fence is a usually overlooked part of the garden that can bring an edge to your outside area. Spruce up a raised element of your garden with some inspiration and ideas.
- You can paint your wood panel fencing to suit a theme you want to carry throughout your garden, matching it to your outdoor furniture or plants and flowers. You could even make a statement with a two-tone panel, having the top portion of your fence one colour and the rest a lighter or darker shade.
- Attach a trellis to your fence grow some climbing plants – this can help in covering bare areas and build height to your landscape
- Fix a garden mirror to help create the illusion of a larger garden and to add light to darker, more shaded areas.
How to clean panelled fencing?
To clean your fence, all you need is a bucket of warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush. Clean your fence panels in circular motions and pour fresh water over them to remove excess. Focus on removing spots of green algae as this can significantly improve its appearance.
To remove stubborn marks of dirt, you can use a pressure washer to quickly cut through the dirt and leave your fencing looking as good as new.
Do fences need gaps for the wind?
If you live in a particularly windy area and have had experience with your panelled fencing being blown over before, it might be a good idea to install fence panels with gaps to allow the wind to pass through. Alternatively, a concrete mix will help it stay sturdy and hold firmly in place against the elements.
What is the difference between willow and hazel?
The main difference is the size of branches or 'wands' used. Willow hurdles are woven from younger and therefore thinner branches – the horizontals are up to 1 cm in diameter. Hazel hurdles are larger, appearing more like 'branches' of a tree, generally, from 1 to 2cm thick giving a more sturdy and less delicate feel to your fencing.
What style of hurdle will suit my garden?
There are many different styles of natural fencing that may suit your garden. Willow hurdles can be created either by using a standard weave or by grouping the branches into a bunched weave which creates an attractive alternative pattern. The hazel hurdles can be made either by using whole branches or by using split branches for a contemporary finish. The branches in all of these hurdles are coppiced and their sources are therefore sustainable.
Sizes: All hurdles are 6ft wide (1.83cm), with up to 5 heights: 3ft, 4ft, 4ft 6, 5ft and 6ft.
They can be cut easily to reduce the height by cutting the verticals and removing unrequired horizontals. The width can be reduced by carefully cutting to ensure that the horizontals don't become unwoven. Alternatively, overlap adjacent hurdles to reduce width.
Please note: This is a natural product and there will be variations from hurdle to hurdle and cane to cane. We cannot guarantee each roll or cane are identical as colour, width and length will vary.
How long does willow hurdle fencing last?
You can expect your willow fencing panel to last a considerable amount of time if it is secured in a good spot and away from wind exposure. If looked after properly, it can last up to 10 years and will provide you with a rustic aesthetic for years to come.
Can willow and hazel be used as garden screening?
An alternative natural fencing idea is outdoor screening. Unlike freestanding hurdles, screening is fixed to pre-existing fences for decoration and privacy. It can be made from a greater variety of materials as it doesn’t need to have the strength to stand up on its own. So as well as willow screening, you can also get bamboo, brushwood and artificial.
What are framed hurdles?
You can adjust most of our hurdles to fit perfectly in your garden - if they’re too tall you can easily cut them down to size. For a more polished, modern look you can also choose framed hurdles, which have the same handwoven materials inside but a robust outer edge.
