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Protect fence from rot

We just had a new timber fence installed and I want to protect the bottom from rot. The fence is in a dark damp section where water runs off into the garden bed adjacent to the fence line. The area is also prone to leaf drop from a neighboring river red gum so we often get buildup of leaf debris in the garden bed. I was considering putting builders plastic along the bottom of the fence line in the hopes of stopping the wet soil from the garden bed coming into contact with the bottom of the fence. Would that help or would it make it worse because water can not freely drain? What other solutions are available to stop damp soil and leaf litter touching the fence?

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Comments

Jason

Hi @EV77 and welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you as a member.

I'm sure the community will have some interesting ideas for you on this topic. Let me tag @Adam_W and @MitchellMc who might like to kick off the discussion. It might also be helpful if you could share a photo or two so members can see the fence and the area that you are working with.

Please don't hesitate to post anytime you have something to share with the community or need a hand with a project around the house and garden. We're here to help.

Jason

MitchellMc

Hi @EV77,

I'd also like to welcome you to the Bunnings Workshop community and offer some advice on the topic. You are correct about it being a good idea to prevent the soil from being in constant contact with the fence if it is a damp location. Ideally, you should prevent contact and still allow airflow at the same time. My advice would be to run edging directly in front of the fence to hold the soil back from it. You would only need to leave a five-centimetre gap in between the fence and the edging for airflow.

There are a variety of edging products available but I would suggest using a solid variety like Cyclone 250mm x 3.2m Corrugated Garden Edging if it is to hold back the soil.

For an extra layer of protection, you could use TWA Woodcare 300g Ecoseal Tanalised Timber Treatment which will give the timber an H5 (Suitable for constant contact with moisture) treatment rating. You would need to ensure all surfaces of the timber are thoroughly coated for this to be effective.

Please let me know if you require further information or had questions.

Mitchell

EV77

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/9237#Comment_9237

Thanks for the great suggestions @MitchellMc! I have now picked up both product from Bunnings 👍

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/66889#Comment_66889

@EV77,

Thanks for the update.

Please let me know if you need advice on the installation of the edging or the application of the Ecoseal.

Mitchell

EV77

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/96246#Comment_96246

We finally got around to finishing the garden bed last weekend. Here's a snapshot of the edging we used along the fence. Thanks again for your wonderful advice!

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114859#Comment_114859

@EV77,

I'm glad to see that worked out well for you. Not only does it serve a purpose it looks fantastic too.

Many thanks for sharing the finished result with the community. We look forward to seeing what your next project is around your house and garden.

Mitchell

Trevz

Hi everybody, I too am interested in protecting my timber fences from not only rot from raised garden beds but also the intrusion of grass runners from Kikuyu and buffalo grasses from an adjoining property. My idea was to use lengths of cement sheet by 400mm deep into the soil against and below the fence where the grass intrusion is and also to stop the fence rotting where I have raised garden beds.

Will this work or is there another preferred method?

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/10925#Comment_10925

Hi @Trevz,

Thanks for joining in the discussion.

Sounds like you have a good approach to the problem. I would encourage you to take a look at this recent discussion - Keeping Kikyu grass out of garden beds

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Please don't hesitate to post anytime you have something to share with the community or need a hand with a project around the house and garden.

Jason

Trevz

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/67847#Comment_67847

Thanks, I have read that discussion and have taken some ideas from them. What I'm curious about though is will the cement sheet, if I go down that path, remain stable long term or will if break down and become useless in time? I don't know how cement sheet lasts when it is buried in soil.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/96773#Comment_96773

No worries, thanks @Trevz. The ever-helpful @MitchellMc will be back on the site tomorrow (Friday) and will be happy to share his thoughts.

Let me also tag @Adam_W to see if he might like to share what approach he would take.

Jason

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/96773#Comment_96773

Hi @Trevz,

It's great to have you join us and many thanks for your question.

I've made contact with James Hardie technical assistance and they have informed me that their current range of cement sheeting would only last a few years underground as it is not suitable for that application. They have suggested a product specifically designed for this purpose like Whites 600mm x 5m Recycled Garden Root Barrier and Whites 300mm x 8m Recycled Garden Edging would be much more effective.

Please let me know if you need further information or had questions.

Mitchell

SalBay

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115029#Comment_115029

I've used the 300mm edging , works well, needs a bit of digging (you will find tree roots!), it can be a bit wavy, best to unroll first, measure and cut, then lay it flat on a concrete slab in the sun , with some weights on it, for a day to flatten it out. The offcuts are useful for making various things , (dog poop scoops etc), cuts easily with tinsnips & bends well with a hot air gun.

mrsgiveitago

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/9237#Comment_9237

Hi, I followed these instructions but then it didn’t work as the drop is around 400mm so the garden edging was too short. What can I put between the soil and new timber fence to keep the fence from rotting and hold up the soil please? I also have to leave by gap for draining down to the front of the street.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/70762#Comment_70762

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @mrsgiveitago and thanks for your post. Let me tag @EricL who will be happy to assist you as soon as possible.

Please refrain from making multiple topics about the same topic as it makes the forum harder for others to use and navigate. Please be assured we will provide the support you need.

Jason

mrsgiveitago

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/98547#Comment_98547

@Jason Thank You! The first time I posted the topic, I could not see it anywhere. Are there two topics posted that are the same? Can you please send me the links to view them? In 'My Posts,' it only shows one.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/116026#Comment_116026

There's just this one thanks @mrsgiveitago. The other two you posted have been removed by the moderation team.

Thanks,

Jason

mrsgiveitago

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125988#Comment_125988

Hi @Jason I have not received a response to my two topics and was hoping to do this work tomorrow please?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132661#Comment_132661

Hello @mrsgiveitago

My apologies for the late reply. Due to your height requirements, you will need to double up the Cyclone 250mm x 3.2m Corrugated Garden Edging. You can join them together by using a Craftright Rivet Gun Set. Put the Garden Edging on top of one another and have them overlap by 30mm. Drill pilot holes on both Garden Edging panels and use rivets to join them together. This will now give you the height that you need to hold the soil back.

Please note that the Garden Edging will need to be supported from the back to keep it upright. I suggest using 900mm Hardwood Garden Stake - 6 Pack. However, if the timber posts are not strong enough to hold the soil back you will have to use Whites 90cm Premium Black Ultrapost. I've placed a sample diagram below for you to look at. If you have any questions about it or need further assistance, please let me know.

Eric

dhanz15

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114859#Comment_114859

Did you attach the edging to the timber fence? I am planning to buy Lattice Makers 220mm x 3m Black Ezy Edge Garden Edging - Bunnings Australia or Tuscan Path 250mm x 3.2m Black Garden Edging - Black - Bunnings Australia but I am not sure how to install it

Do I need to purchase edging pegs for both types? Do I need to attach it to my steel posts? Which one is better? In addition, I want to use it as animal proof barrier to prevent animals/dogs from digging and going under the fence.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128643#Comment_128643

Hello @dhanz15

Thank you for sharing your question about your garden edging. Let me tag @mrsgiveitago to make them aware of your query. It would be interesting to see how her project has turned out.

The products that you mentioned the Lattice Makers 220mm x 3m Black Ezy Edge Garden Edging and the Tuscan Path 250mm x 3.2m Black Garden Edging are both push type garden edging. Unless the soil is very hard these edging sets are literally just pushed into the ground. But if you wish to support them you can use Icon Plastics 280mm Slate Grey Garden Edge Peg. This will add stability to your garden edging.

If you wish to use it as a pet deterrent, I'm afraid you'll have to copy the original project as the garden edging products are not tall enough.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

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