From yard scraps to a useful fence

How to build a brush fence: a haven for insects and decomposers

A brush fence creates a haven for beneficial decomposers and insects. The pile of twigs and branches you're left with each year when tidying your yard can be used to build a fence. After all, no twig is too small for a brush fence.

Author Sari Kaakinen

Images Erkki Makkonen

September 21, 2025Lue suomeksi

Brush fence—instructions:

Designing the brush fence — 1. Decide on the width for your brush fence—80–100 cm (about 31–39 in), for example. There’s no rule against making it wider. Cut a measuring stick of that length to position the fence posts and keep the fence consistently the same width from start to finish. Place the measuring stick on the ground, and use a steel bar to create holes for the posts at intervals of about 0.5 m (about 20 in).

Fence posts for the brush fence — 2. Use narrow, fairly straight, and uniformly sized pieces of trunk for fence posts. Sharpen the bottom of each post with an axe. The slower the wood decays, the less often you’ll need to replace them. Think about how high you want and can comfortably stack the materials. Around 90 cm (about 35 in) is a practical height. You’ll also need about 40 cm (about 16 in) below ground, for a total post length of roughly 130 cm (about 51 in).

3. Drive the fence posts into the ground, following your planned shape—straight or curved. You can also choose any length for the structure.

Brush fence material — 4. Stack twigs and other wood material between the rows of fence posts from above. Any woody yard waste can be used, including entire young trees. Decomposition can take anywhere from a few years to several decades, depending on the size of the wood, the moisture, and the tree species.

Stacking the brush fence — 5. Placing large trunks or trunk pieces on top helps secure the fence’s interior, holds lighter branches in place, and compresses airy piles. Lay the longest trunks and saplings along the edges to form walls that keep the interior from spilling out. You can add to the fence over time as you accumulate more materials, or wait until the wood has decomposed and the fence has settled lower.

Completed brush fence — 6. A brush fence draws in decomposers that release nutrients for your garden’s plants. It also creates shelter and habitat for many insects, fungi, and birds. Even an urban hedgehog may find this fence a much-needed winter nest.

Consider placing your brush fence where you’ll have tree and branch waste readily available.

Brush fence—5 different uses

Branch storage. All the wood and branch waste from your yard has a dedicated spot.
Windbreak. A tall deadwood fence significantly buffers strong winds.
Bunny barrier. A fence at least one meter (about 39 in) tall will protect your orchard.
Space divider. Create room-like areas in your garden.
Raised bed for plants. Add a thick layer of compost on top of the fence, remove or shorten the posts, and support the edges.

Expert: Chief gardener Yrjö Vähäkallio, Joensuu Botanical Garden Botania

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How to build a brush fence: a haven for insects and decomposers

Brush fence—instructions:

Brush fence—5 different uses

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