Considering a Natural Fence? Fence Your House with These 6 Plants

From security and privacy to decoration and definition of boundaries, there are many reasons why people fence their properties. Fences are of different types; wood, chain link, aluminum, barbed wire, vinyl, stone and wrought iron are some of the materials people choose for their fences. However, some prefer green fences over artificial fences. The following are some of the plants you can use to grow your own live fence:

Lantana

Though it is considered an unwanted weed in some parts of the world, the lantana plant would make an ideal fence for your premises. It not only has the ability to thrive in most soil types but it also tolerant to prolonged periods of sunlight. Lantana produces flowers that are a beautiful blend of red, yellow, white, pink, orange and purple. In addition to adding radiance to your compound, these bright flowers attract creatures such as butterflies and birds.

Kei apple

Its numerous nutritional benefits aside, Kei apple is a plant you should definitely consider growing if you are looking into having a natural fence. The Kei apple, otherwise scientifically known as Dovyalis caffra, has thorns that come in handy in keeping unwanted animals at bay. Worry not if you come from a dry area; this plant is able to withstand famines and does well in sandy soils. This quality has made it useful in the fight against soil erosion. What’s more, its ability to flourish in saline conditions has made it a very efficient coastal hedge.

Bougainvillea

One of the reasons why homeowners consider this tropical plant for their fences is because of its rapid growth rate. Native to South America, bougainvillea takes a short time to bloom if exposed to the right amounts of sunlight and water. It comes in many varieties, some of which can attain a height of up to 40 feet. Though growing the bougainvillea may pose some challenges during the initial stages, it is not a difficult plant to take care of. It, however, requires regular pruning to take shape.

Finger euphorbia

The botanical name of finger euphorbia is Euphorbia tirucalli though it goes by different names in different parts of the country. Having it as your fence is cheap and easy. All you need to do is get the plant cuttings and plant them near each other. Finger euphorbia has proven to do well in many types of soil and even thrives in places with minimal water supply. In addition, it is not a favorite delicacy among herbivores so you don’t have to worry about your fence ending up in a cow’s belly. What you should worry about however is its milky white sap coming into contact with your skin or worse still your eyes; it is very poisonous.

Duranta Sheena’s Gold

Few hedge plants compare to Duranta Sheena’s Gold; on top of coming in an absolutely beautiful golden color, it can go for months without pruning and still look good. Most people prefer growing it low for ornamental purposes but it is actually a very solid fence and can stand as high as 4 meters.

Bamboo

Factors such as plant variety, soil and atmospheric conditions put in place, bamboo is arguably the fastest growing plant on earth. In fact, some types of bamboo have been seen to gain 35 inches of height in just a single day. Bamboo can also grow horizontally spreading through the roots so that several shoots sprout from a single rhizome.

(This article has been written by Karani Njiru)