View ChannelsFeatured: Finance
View ShowroomsFeatured: Radiantec - Radiant Solar Heating

BobVila.com

Home

Preventing Weed Growth Along the Fence

On the other side of the backyard garden Weed Seal was installed along the perimeter of the fence to control weeds along the fence line and around fence posts. Bob talks with Jack Schreiner of Bruckman Rubber about the product. It was originally developed on the recommendation of the Department of Environmental Quality of Nebraska who suggested developing products made from scrap tires. Weed Seal uses about 50 percent scrap tire and 50 percent virgin rubber material with fiber reinforcement. The product is heavy, which keeps it from blowing up or away. The seal prevents weeds from growing along the fence, which eliminates the need to use herbicides or pesticides to control weed growth along the fence. Post protectors are designed to fit around the fence posts. The material is rugged and able to withstand weather and nicks from lawnmowers and trimmers.

Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Chapters from this episode

Creating a Lattice-Top Gate Now Playing

Creating a Lattice-Top Gate

Creating Stone Steps with Recycled Granite Now Playing

Creating Stone Steps with Recycled Granite

Limbing a Potentially Dangerous Tree Now Playing

Limbing a Potentially Dangerous Tree

Replacing the Gutters Now Playing

Replacing the Gutters

Converting a Mudroom to a Pantry Now Playing

Converting a Mudroom to a Pantry

Preventing Weed Growth Along the Fence Now Playing

Preventing Weed Growth Along the Fence

Selecting Flowering Plants for the Backyard Now Playing

Selecting Flowering Plants for the Backyard

Now Playing

Hardscaping the Backyard

Creating a Low-Maintenance Front Yard Now Playing

Creating a Low-Maintenance Front Yard

Installing Artificial Grass in the Backyard Now Playing

Installing Artificial Grass in the Backyard

Clip Transcript For:

Preventing Weed Growth Along the Fence

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Now all this natural stuff meets high tech stuff on this other side of the garden. And we've got two interesting products that have been used here the first one is a product that we've installed along the perimeter of the fence. OK so we're gonna look at a product that's been developed to help control weeds along a fence line. And Jack trainers with us from Brooklyn rubber company -- Nebraska and -- you guys -- what the the government has connected to develop this."

" Well -- department of environmental quality in Nebraska kid and ask us to start developing products that would utilize some of the scrap tire to clean up the environment. So this is one of the products that we seal that we developed that. Utilizes about 50% scrap tire and 50% virgin material. Special formula so it allows it to seal together when you installed pieces so it's basically -- percent were a 100% rubber. With fiber reinforcement and command top."

" So the idea is that you displayed we interrupted you here but you're you're just laying it down. -- perimeter of the fences will live underneath look at the sections for between the posts. And we'll lay those sections between the post is heavy. Yes one point six pounds so low blow away it won't no way here and and you can see by the density -- nothing's gonna go through it well what I like is the whole concept that you're not going to be trimming or edging with a weed wacker and banging up the nice cedar fairly easy handy EPA talk to is that you know him so much spray goes down that harms our environment and gets contrary. Groundwater when people spray their fences and this gives -- passing it on produce well weed controlling chemicals and stuff yeah dangerous stuff that gets put on our -- what are these instruments that what are these square ones for. These square ones are what we call our post protectors. And they're designed to go around. Did we have what we call a slit lock device near to designed to go around the post on an existing installations in the -- on. Yeah this particular one here had a conduit coming up so we required another and -- not just right not shine. But this is putting him. You can slip this around. And then go around the other side so you're not gonna have any anything seed itself at the post either right. Well it's great to terrific product thanks Jack you welcome thank you."

[-]

More Videos »Related Videos

Removable Swimming Pool Safety Fencing

Bill Jasper from the Baby Barrier Pool Fence Company joins Bob for the installation of the removable Baby Barrier that will add a layer of protection for young children around the pool. Vertical aluminum poles with steel inserts for strengthening are set in the pool deck to receive the barrier panels. Jasper explains how the construction exceeds code requirements that state the fence be able to withstand more than 53 pounds of pressure. This fencing can withstand up to 80 pounds of direct pressure and has a latching gate that is child-proof by design. The panels themselves are PVC-coated wire mesh. The cost for the full installation with a ten-year warranty is between $1,500 and $2,000.

Dog Fence Options

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. While we all know they don t like to be fenced in, after thousands of years of domestication, dogs need boundaries to be safe. Fortunately, dog owners have lots of options to choose from when it comes to fences. If your yard isn t fenced or you d simply like to keep Rover out of the lily bed, you can build him a dog run with 4- to 7-foot wire or polyethylene rolled fencing. Staked into the ground without the use of heavy equipment, this dark mesh fencing is designed to be easily movable, strong and unobtrusive. You can also find chain link or powder-coated metal kennel kits to keep your dog safe outside and limit his range. Look for fencing that s 12-gauge or heavier and doesn t include aluminum fittings, which can weaken over time outside. If a kennel or dog run isn t something you want in your yard, an underground electronic fence may be the answer. Some brands are even wireless now so no ditch digging is necessary. As the dog approaches the fence boundary, his collar emits first a warning sound and then an electronic stimulus, or correction, to keep him away. To avoid confusing your dog, training has to accompany this system. Electronic fences are available with incremental strength levels for training and for different sized dog breeds. You don t want your dog escaping and getting injured because of a dead transmitter battery so look for a system with the longest battery life possible. And remember to check the battery regularly. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Installing a Fence on a Sloped Site

Bob talks with Jay Triandafilou from Architectural Fence Plus about the fencing installed on the side and backyard of the home in Melrose. The fencing was built using white cedar, a strong and long-lasting wood. The fence posts were installed using a concrete mix, which can promote rot if done incorrectly. Triandafilou explains that the base of the posts were placed into a 36- inch hole. Six inches of dirt were put into the hole and concrete was then added. This method does not create a total seal and allows water to pass through the dirt, between the wood and the concrete. The concrete provides stiffness and stability for the fence posts. The post should not be totally encased in the concrete. The fence on the side of the home has three stalls, which will provide space for a shed, a planting area, and a place to keep trash. In the backyard, there was an existing chain-link fence that needed to be taken down. The land was rocky, which made digging the 36-inch holes for the fence posts difficult. When placing fence posts, a good rule is one third of the post should be placed below ground and two thirds above. Triandafilou explainsthat the area where the fence was installed is a sloped site, which posed some challenges. Triandafilou and his team made the fence sections off site, but in some cases the board sections were created on site to accomodate the slope. A finished cap was added to the top of the fence to keep out rain. The top of the fence was cut to allow this cap to be installed. Triandafilou explains the "clean side" of the fence (the face without the horizontal rails ) was put in place facing the neighbors. In the back of the house, the clean side was installed facing the home.

Installing a Maintenance Free Vinyl Picket Fence

Bob meets Todd Skulksy of Perfection Fence as he installs the classic New England-style vinyl picket fence. This product has a wood look and is made of mono-extruded vinyl so that it has only one layer and will not show nicks or discolorations over time. The fence is installed without mechanical fasteners and has been engineered with the crimps molded into the rails. The rail locks into the post piece and the crimp holds it in place. Perfection Fence vinyl fences come in different styles, this one with traditional New England features like the Colonial cap and ball finial for the top. Skulsky explains that these fences are moderately priced and cost less than finished wood fencing, but more than an unfinished wood fence. They are maintenance free, however, which will save money over time.