Many blocks of ground are situated on sloping and sometimes very steep ground. Such blocks still need to have fencing, but expert landscapers will tell you that there are more challenges to overcome on such a block. First you must take care to implement sustainable practices to preserve the ground and any surrounding habitat, especially if the block is located in the mountains where diverse flora and fauna occur.
When the block is steep, it’s important not to dig a deep trench straight down as this can cause erosion during heavy rain if it storms before the fence is finished. It can not only wash away half your topsoil, but affect properties that are located below yours.
The two main methods of erecting a fence on a slope are raked – sometimes called racked – and stepped.
Raked fence: this is when the fence rails remain parallel to the ground, but the picket posts are upright, which means they are not fixed square on to the rails. The advantage of this method is that the fence is low to the ground all the way along, so it will keep pets in. However, it is not always suitable for a very steep slope. For a raked installation the drop should be no more than 6 inches or 12cm per 6 foot or two metres of fencing. When finished, this type of fence would have a smoothly sloping top, rather like the handrail of an escalator.