• With a DIY fence project, you can protect your yard or garden.Fence and shadow of fence on snowy ground.. image by LiteWave from Fotolia.com
  
  When you want to protect an area of a yard or garden, you can make your own fencing with materials from a home supply store. Before you start building, consider the type of fence that will be best for protection and display, and choose one that suits your skill and construction ability.
  
  

Embedded Flower Boxes

• For a fence that doubles as a display area for flowers and plants, build embedded flower boxes. Start with a basic board fence and make wooden box frames. Nail the frames to the fence at different levels to create an offset pattern; store flowers and potted plants inside the square frames. For the best result, install the flower boxes on the side of the fence that gets a good deal of direct sunlight. Boxes can be used to add extra levels to a fence above the garden, and are an easy alternative to window boxes.
  
  

Lattice

• When you need a fence that allows some visibility of the area within, build a simple wooden lattice fence. Start with large sections of wooden lattice, which can be purchased at home supply store. Cut the frames into sections that will form the body of the fence and nail two-inch by four-inch planks along the edges for a frame. Measure out the line of the fence and place a marker in the ground at a distance equal to the width of one lattice section. At each junction, embed a four-inch by four-inch post in concrete or directly in the ground; attach each section to a stability post to anchor the fence. You can use the fence to support vines because the openings will allow for growth.
  
  

Garden Protector

• For a simple low fence to protect a garden from small animals, make a wood and mesh fence. Start by inserting wooden posts where you want the fence corners to be. Use longer pieces of wood nailed to the corner posts to create the perimeter of the fence. From a home supply store, buy a roll of wire mesh and use a heavy-duty staple gun to attach the top edge to the top rail and support posts; cut the mesh so the bottom edge can be pushed several inches into the ground. This type of fence is useful from protecting gardens from small pests like rabbits.
  
  

Deer Fence

• If you are looking to keep deer out of your yard or garden, you need a tall fence but not necessarily one with a tight mesh on the bottom. Measure out the area you want to protect and use flags to mark the fence line. Determine the length of the rails you will use and insert a support beam at the same interval around the line; the beams will represent the height of the fence. Between each support pole, use a drill to attach two rails; for taller fences, you might want to add three or even four rails.