Homeowners often spend a lot of time and money on their landscaping. A beautifully landscaped yard adds value to the home and to the neighborhood. However, homeowners also like to fence in their front yards to prevent passersby from trespassing or children and pets from running off.

A front yard fence doesn't have to hide your beautiful landscaping. Below are some ideas for how the two yard elements can work together.

PVC Picket Fence

Any fencing pro will likely state that plants shouldn't touch wooden fencing. Over time, they'll trap moisture and cause the wood to warp or rot. So, if you want a wooden picket fence, you'll need to keep the plants separate.

If you want more interaction between the two elements, consider a PVC picket fence, which looks just like wood. PVC is impervious to rot, so plants touching the surface shouldn't affect the fence's integrity. With a PVC picket fence, you can plant a foundation garden right in the front and let taller plants peek from over the top.

Letting plants climb the PVC fence might be a different matter. Talk to your fencing experts before you plant climbers at the base of your PVC picket fence.

PVC Split Rail Fence

The split rail fence is another style that's commonly constructed in wood. With split rail fencing, you don't always expect to see the same interplay of plant life and fence. Indeed, such a fence would be ideal for keeping a vegetable or rose garden safe from passersby plucking the fruits of your labor.

However, you may still enjoy a little more interaction for your landscaping vision. For instance, roses working their way through the slats could make a charming vignette in your front yard. Well, PVC fencing comes in a variety of split rail designs, including the white you expect from picket fencing. Since split rails are often more rustic, consider one of the naturally stained varieties.

Ornamental Iron Fence

Iron is a little better at withstanding moisture than wood, but it can rust over time if you're not careful. But the solid appearance of ornamental iron makes it an appealing counter to organic landscaping. You could landscape both in front of and behind the fence but leave the iron untouched by plants. You'll still get that complementary effect, but avoid rust issues.

Another option is to order a powder-coated fence. The powder coating creates a seal around the iron, which makes it resistant to rust. If you have such a fence installed, you might not have to be as careful to keep such a distinct line between the plants and fence. However, you'll want to inspect the fence regularly to ensure no scratches let moisture get to the metal.

Mixed-Material Fence

Stones and plants live side-by-side in nature without the former receiving any ill effect. Stone is much less susceptible to the amount of moisture that comes from a plant.

A stone fence is essentially a wall. That may not be your vision for your home, and it won't always let your landscaping shine. Instead, consider a fence that mixes stone posts and metal fence panels. The metal can be ornamental iron or aluminum, which is also resistant to rust.

You have a couple approaches for this style of fence. One is to have contractors stack stones to build the posts. However, the more common method for such a fence is for the contractors to use a concrete core covered in a stone veneer. The stone veneer adheres by way of mortar. All three material are impervious to moisture from plants.

Some homeowners have a pony wall that spans the bottom of the fence in lieu of a bottom rail. This wall would be another area where you could comfortably plant almost right up to the fence and not worry about moisture control. As with the wrought iron fence, though, be diligent about inspection.

Create an attractive display with fencing and landscaping. Consult with the professionals at Duke Fence Co, Inc, for advice and construction.