How to Choose the Right Garden Fence Panels for Your Garden

A garden fence does more than mark a boundary. It gives you privacy and security. It’s often the backdrop to everything you plant, build or entertain in front of. The market offers many garden fence panels — closeboard, lap, slatted, feather edge, cedar, pressure-treated. Picking the right one can feel more complicated than it needs to be.

At CMR Timber, we supply fencing to homeowners and trade customers across the UK. We hear the same questions every day: which panel style holds up best, how high can I go, and do I need concrete posts or timber ones? Here’s everything you need to know before you order.

Types of Garden Fence Panels

Closeboard Fencing

Closeboard is the classic choice for gardens that need strength and privacy. Vertical boards overlap and attach to horizontal rails. Together they form a solid, wind-resistant barrier that’s hard to see through. It’s the go-to option where security matters — side returns, rear boundaries, or anywhere facing a public path.

Lap Panels

Overlap (or “lap”) panels are the most popular fence panel in the UK, and for good reason. They’re cost-effective, quick to install, and available in a wide range of heights. Horizontal timber slats overlap within a timber frame, giving decent privacy at a lower price point than closeboard.

Feather Edge Fencing

Feather edge fencing uses tapered boards fixed vertically. This gives a clean, uniform finish that suits traditional and contemporary gardens alike. It looks tidier than lap panels, but costs less than closeboard.

Slatted & Contemporary Fencing

Want a modern look? Try slatted fence panels with horizontal gaps between the boards. They let light and air through while still offering a strong visual screen. They also pair well with decking and rendered garden walls. For a step up in finish, our Deluxe Cedar Fence Panels bring a warmer, richer tone that silvers naturally over time.

Venetian & Privacy Slats

Some gardens need a screen rather than a full fence — around a patio, hot tub, or bin store. Venetian privacy fencing slats give you adjustable-style screening without the weight of a full panel.

Fence Posts, Rails & Gravel Boards: The Parts People Forget

The panel is only half the job. A fence is only as strong as what’s holding it up.

• Posts — choose timber or concrete. Set them into the ground or bolt them to post supports. Concrete posts last longer and won’t rot. Timber posts blend in better with a natural garden.
• Gravel boards — these sit at the base of the fence, between the ground and the panel. They keep the bottom of your panels out of wet soil, which is the single biggest cause of early fence rot.
• Fencing rails — these are the horizontal timbers that hold panels or featherboard in place. Our pressure-treated fencing rails work well for repairs and new builds alike.
• Capping — this strip runs along the top of the fence line. It protects the end grain of posts and boards from rain and extends the fence’s lifespan.

Replacing just a damaged section? Check the gravel board and posts first. They fail more often than the panel itself, so it’s worth ruling them out before you buy a full replacement.

Pressure-Treated vs Untreated Timber

We pressure-treat almost all our fencing timber. This process pushes preservative deep into the wood rather than just coating the surface. It’s what gives fence panels their resistance to rot, fungal decay and insect damage in the UK’s wet climate. Want to know more? Read our guide to how long pressure-treated timber lasts for a full breakdown of what affects a fence’s lifespan.

How High Can My Garden Fence Be?

In England and Wales, fences up to 2 metres high generally don’t need planning permission. That drops to 1 metre if the fence borders a road used by vehicles. Rules can vary by council and by property, particularly for listed buildings or conservation areas. Always check with your local planning authority before you install a boundary fence over these heights.

Getting the Right Amount of Timber

Fence panels usually come in standard widths, around 1.83m. Measure your full boundary length first. This tells you how many panels and posts you need before you order. Planning a bigger project, like a full boundary replacement or a new build plot? Our team can help you put together a materials list. Trade customers can also apply for a CMR Trade Card for better pricing on larger orders.

Choosing Fencing to Match the Rest of Your Garden

Planning fencing alongside other timber work, like sleepers for raised beds or edging, decking, or shed cladding? Choose timbers that age at a similar rate and tone. Our guide on choosing the right timber for your garden project shows you how to match species and treatments across a whole garden scheme. That way, your fencing, sleepers and cladding weather together instead of looking mismatched a few years down the line.

Shop Fence Panels, Posts & Fixings

CMR Timber stocks fence panels, posts, gravel boards, rails and fixings for delivery across the UK. We offer trade pricing for regular buyers. Browse our full range of garden fencing and fence panels. Want help pricing up a full boundary? Get a fencing quote from our team.