The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Improve Your Home Landscaping

Set your fence posts deep enough in the ground to resist the prevailing winds, at least 2 feet and even deeper. Set heavy posts in concrete. Tamp firmly in place so the fence will not wiggle. Hardware used should be galvanized.

Among the most popular types of fences are the traditional picket, the post-and-rail fence and the hurdle fence, but with increased stress on privacy screening, the louvered and lattice types are ever more popular.

The post-and-rail fence is made of posts spaced at 10 foot intervals with large slots cut in them. The 11-foot-long rails are tapered to flat ends, which are inserted in the posts. The hurdle fence has split rails built into a braced frame and nailed together, with the end pieces of each panel becoming the posts.

The picket fence, traditionally white, has posts spaced from 8 to 12 feet apart, rails 3x4 inches, and pickets 2 to 3 inches wide, pointed at the top. The pickets should be 2 inches off the ground at the bottom and extend well above the top rail. The spindle fence is a kind of picket fence with round spindles that pass through holes in the rails.

There are many possible variations of board fences used for screening. A broad rail may be alternated with a narrow rail, or the boards may be applied vertically, like palings, with, perhaps, a staggering of the boards on either side of the rail. Boards may be slanted in a louver effect to give privacy while admitting air and sunlight.

A basket-weave fence can be constructed of thin, flexible boards and provides total screening and a handsome background for planting. It is somewhat difficult to build yourself, however.

Soils and Lawns

THE most important tool with which the gardener works is the soil on his land. The qualities of soil vary greatly from area to area, and all the information outlined in this chapter must be applied to local conditions. In general, however, soils can be divided into three categories; claylike, sandy or silt. The ideal soil consists of a good mixture of sand, silt and clay, and is classified as good garden loam. Clay soils have the greatest water-holding capacity, sandy soils the least.

The binding material of all good soils is an organic substance called humus. Humus increases the water-holding capacity of the soil, readily absorbs the sun's rays, liberates beneficial compounds for plants from the soil and fertilizes and improves soil texture. Humus is added to the soil by the use of organic lertilizers such as manure or the product of a compost pile. Humus can be purchased directly, but the expense is usually prohibitive if it is a large area that needs treatment.