When your company is contracted to install lawn fencing at customers' homes or businesses, you have to be ready to give them what they want. Fencing can mean a variety of things, from chain-link fences and privacy fences to electric fences and decorative garden fences. Having the knowledge to install whatever your client wants is the first step.

The next step is making sure your company has the proper supplies to get the job done. If you're not ready to roll when a client comes to you, you can pretty much kiss that contract goodbye. Stay prepared by having the supplies for lawn and garden fencing on hand:

1. Keep a variety of lawn fencing in stock. This includes all of the above-mentioned varieties.

2. Make sure you have the right installation materials. There are a few basic things you'll need to install each type of yard fence.

3. Offer a variety of decorative touches. You may have a client who wants his or her office or home fence to have that extra little something to make it unique.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Offer a variety of lawn fencing material

A variety of materials can be used to construct the fence itself. Any type of wooden fence should use pressure-treated wood to avoid rot. Chain-link or wire fencing should consist of a heavy-gauge wire mesh with aluminum posts. Electric fences are also mesh but are made of electric wire and need to be charged with an electric source and grounded with a copper post. Lastly, vinyl fences are constructed of prefabricated vinyl pieces that are either assembled on site or installed in premade sections.

I recommend: Check out the attributes of different wood species at the American Fence Association. For examples of wire garden fencing, browse through the selections at GWP Industries. Kencove Farm Fence Supplies offers three different styles of electric fence chargers.

Have the right yard fence preparation and installation supplies

To prepare for the most popular kinds of fencing, you'll need to dig holes and anchor the fence posts into the ground with concrete. In addition, you'll have to make sure your fencing is level while you're installing it, so a basic level will help you there. You may need power equipment, like a nail gun, if you're installing a wood privacy fence. This will make your crew much more efficient.

I recommend: Take a look at the different kinds of post hole diggers and augers you can use from Aubuchon Hardware. The list of tools and frequently asked questions at McGowan Fence & Supply can help you out when installing chain-link fencing. Read through the guide at Lowe's to determine the best type of nail gun for your business.

Finish lawn fencing off with decorative accents

Wooden and vinyl fences look especially nice when the posts are topped off with a post cap or finial. Another nice addition is lattice added to the top. A scalloped edge on a garden picket fence often looks nice and can be accomplished using only a jigsaw.

I recommend: Consider offering post caps and lattice similar to the ones pictured at BobVila.com. Check out the finials at The Nantucket Post Cap Company, which can also be used to jazz up an ordinary fence.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When installing a garden fence, take care not to trample any existing plants. Unless you want to end up with a homeowner who is angry because you ruined his or her prize-winning garden, you may have to spend a bit of extra time being more meticulous in your actions. Using smaller shovels to dig post holes is a good idea.

Lawn and garden fencing is more than just chain or boards or wire used to enclose a space. It represents a whole system, an entire way of presenting your business. Choosing the fence that addresses both security and business style is second only to choosing the location or building itself.

Lawn and garden fencing carefully investigated, purchased and installed is a major investment. The choices are extensive. The first step in choosing fencing for lawn and garden for a business is deciding the purpose of the fencing. Determine whether you require fencing for:

1. Security only (such as an electric garden fence)
2. Safety and security--whether for children, pets or valuables
3. Property division
4. Aesthetic or creative design purposes
5. Garden space
6. A combination of the above

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine which type of lawn and garden fencing fits your needs

There are dozens of lawn and garden fencing systems and materials on the market. Choose wisely from those in the industry who can offer the best advice.

I recommend: The American Fence Association offers (through its website and publications) what you need to compare fencing systems and products, helps you find local contractors and provide you with information you need regarding any aspect of your fencing questions. Fencing options can include: a vinyl garden fence, a bamboo fence, an iron garden fence, a picket fence, a wood home fence or a chain link fence. When deciding on material, installation is also a key consideration. Determine if you have the appropriate amount of space to install the fencing you would like to use. Home Depot has a useful site on installing alternate board fencing.

Research many different companies that manufacture lawn fencing before making a final choice

Verify the assets of your choice by investigating product or company websites.

I recommend: Vinyl Fence Company is an example of a company website that offers pictures of the many types of vinyl fencing available and can give you cost estimates as well. Benner's Gardens shows the uses of garden fences for protection against rodents and other small wild animals that can destroy your gardens. The Better Business Bureau is always a good choice to further investigate the companies you are interested in.

See if installing lawn fencing yourself is an option, before considering a contractor

Determine whether or not putting up lawn or garden fencing can be a 'do-it-yourself' project, and seek sources to help you do it. This step could save money if you are able to do it properly and in a time-effective manner.

I recommend: DoItYourself.com offers displays and information on all types of fences in addition to instructions on how to go about constructing one or putting one in place. Lowe's has a good website about how to install vinyl garden fence options, as well as other types of lawn and garden fencing.

Choose wisely but don't compromise on safety for your lawn and garden fencing

Financial issues might help finalize your decision--but never force yourself to take something that will create an unpleasant or hazardous environment. Stay informed regarding consumer reports on certain products, especially in reference to possible product recalls or hazards. If you buy used fencing from a neighbor, for instance, or a small business, you might not have the immediate access to any information about problems.

I recommend: High-end vinyl fencing might be more expensive than chain link fencing; but the lower cost of maintenance and the privacy might make it inexpensive in the longer-term. Determine the practicality of your choice once you think you know what you want. These questions should be answered: 1. What is the warranty, or how long will it last? 2. How easy will it be to maintain? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers up-to-date information on recalls and warnings of potential hazards for consumers. Life Saver Pool Fence carries a home fence for a pool, to safeguard young children.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Research lawn and garden fencing products by visiting home supply stores that sell these products, when possible. For a product as expensive as fencing, seeing the products and the quality in person is essential.
• •  Check local government jurisdictions to learn what permits might be necessary for constructing a fence on your property, including what fencing might be necessary if you have a swimming pool on the property.
• •  Plan ahead if you are creating a garden setting that will require special fencing. Knowing what you are planting inside a fence is one of the first steps in determining the fence you want.

Whether you are adding a garden fence, a home fence, a picket fence or a rock wall, improving the aesthetics of a building or a property will help increase its monetary value and your investment in it. Making sure that you have the proper lawn and garden fencing education and training is crucial, though, to making sure that your time and monetary investments are kept within reason.

Other lawn and garden fencing can include lawn fencing, an electric garden fence, garden border fence, home improvement fence, iron garden fence or vinyl garden fence. Any of these different varieties suit different home or gardening needs, and each brings different qualities to the property at hand.

To make the most of lawn and garden fencing education and training:

1. Learn how to install a picket fence.

2. Look into materials on garden fences.

3. Invest in a home improvement fence as your next personal or business investment on a property.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to install a picket fence

A picket fence can add a charm and a cottage feel to any home or business. They are a small investment in materials, but they bring an immeasurable aesthetic value to them that can complete any building project.

I recommend: Find out how to install a picket fence from This Old House online magazine. The article offers step by step instructions as well as photographs. Ron Hazelton's HouseCalls also describes how to install a picket fence, including digging the holes and working with the concrete.

Consider garden fence plans or kits

Go with pre-fabricated garden border fence or create your own wooden garden fence creation from scratch. Some people might prefer the ease of pre-made materials, while you might enjoy the challenge of crafting all of your own woodwork.

I recommend: Check out the variety of do it yourself garden fence plans and instructions from Steve Boulden - S&S Designed Landscaping. Purchase the Garden DIY Plastic Fence Kit from Markers, and follow the diagrams and instructions provided on the site.

Use home fence tools and tips

Take advantage of the many resources available on home fence installation and repair resource sites.

I recommend: Look at basic steps for home fence installation from Wise4Living. Check out the many home fence installation and repair resources available from DoItYourself.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you decide to go with streaming lawn and garden fencing resources, don't be afraid to pause the video midway through the project as you go along. Let it go at your pace, and stop as often as you need to. The moderator is a trained professional who has probably done this hundreds of times. He or she is paid to go fast. For you, quality cannot and should not be rushed.