Fountain Timber Products

Those of you who watch gardening programmes will have seen the increasing use of hurdles in garden design. Hurdles look more natural and blend in better but this is not the major reason for their use.

Hurdles acts very much like a hedge in breaking the wind, by letting a small amount of wind filter through, it reduces the vortex effect that can be caused by a solid barrier. hurdles are the ideal fence for a gardener.

Willow or Hazel ?
In the days of horse and carts people used the material nearest to hand, on low lying ground willow, in traditional coppiced woodland Hazel.

Hazel would be arguably sturdier but willow may last longer, the choice will come down to the one you prefer the look of. Willow when fresh is a green colour but within one season it will darken to a traditional brown.

Framed or Unframed.
In Britain we traditionally used the unframed where as in Europe the tradition grew to frame them. The frame makes the hurdle slightly easier to erect, the unframed looks less formal, again it is what you would prefer to see. Hurdles are a natural product and every hurdle is slightly different, sizes are for guidance only and will vary, match each space to the actual panel. 

Fixing the Unframed -Supports.
The choice of support can be either round or square sawn posts. For the lower hurdles 18" or 460mm in the ground should be sufficient but for a 6' or 1.8m high hurdle we would suggest 2' or 600mm in the ground, concreted in exposed sites. 

Round Stakes. 
  - Up to 4' or 1.2m high hurdles suggest 1.65m x 100mm (product code 61076) 
  - Up to 4' or 1.2m we suggest 1.8m x 75 x 75 (product code 10002) 
  - For 6' or 1.8m hurdles suggest 2.4m x 100mm (product code 61037)

Sawn Posts. 
  - For 6' or 1.8m high we suggest 2.4m x 100 x 100 (product code 10011) 
 
How To Fix To Posts.
You can attach with garden wire or you can screw them to the posts. For the round posts wire may be the most appropriate, for the sawn posts you may choose to butt them together and then fix with screws. You may find a washer helps secure the hurdle. 100mm x 100mm posts will give you a larger surface to fix to.

Fixing The Heavy Framed Range.
This is the sturdiest hurdle, the frame top and bottom gives greater rigidity and although the fixing recommendations are the same as the unframed you will find fixing is simpler and the whole fence is more robust.

Framed All Round.
This is the arch top framed and unframed trellis top. Contrary to appearance these are the least substantial panels, the willow fits into a groove in the frame, they are decorative and simple to fit but not recommended for sites that are very exposed or where security is important. With the framed all round you have the added alternative of using metal clips (product code 84461- see hardware) these would fix to sawn posts or H posts (see range under sawn timber)

Maintenance of Willow And Hazel hurdles.
Both Hazel and Willow are natural products and will have a finite life, this can be enhanced by suitable treatment, the traditional method is linseed oil diluted in turpentine, failing this, any suitable "off the shelf" wood preserver will help.  The life of the hurdle will also be increased if it is lifted above ground level to allow an air passage