Chain link fences have their place in the world. Whether they surround a vacant lot, a junk yard or a private residence, their jobs are to keep people and critters out. Or in. Utilitarian, yes. Pretty, not so much. If you have a useful chain link fence that needs a bit of beautification, check out these six specimens:
The juxtaposition of the industrial and feminine makes this lace installation quite striking. (Via)
Artist Katie Daniels did this installation by ’embroidering’ in NYC last year. She used plastic fence weave, spools, lids and cable ties.
cobalt123 snapped this pic of a chain-link fence tarted up with CDs. Bet it keeps the crows at bay too.
These little ‘floating’ hearts are woven within the links with yarn.
This large installation, called The Flower Garden Fence project, was done by the Ladies Fancywork Society. The crocheted flowers add a bit of life to the Downtown Denver Union Station neighborhood.
Jessica turned her chain link fence into an urban garden using plastic bottles. You can read more about her project here.
plant morning glories as early as possible in the Spring right under your fence, year after year you will get a thick wall of green leaves great for privacy and lovely flowers in the mornings too. Needs to be trimmed every few weeks as they can get out of hand if left alone for long . . .
We planted Virginia Creeper at the bottom of our huge ugly chain link fence. I was suprised how quickly it grew! The bonus is the beautiful red leaves in the fall!
We have honeysuckle growing all over ours.. and I didn’t even have to plant it! We live in woods and it just invited itself to the 24×20 chain link dog yard. I’m thinking of hanging little crafting gems and jewels all over it from Walmart/hobby lobby, whenever I see them on sale.
If you live where there are palm fronds that are cut from existing palms, get to them before they are hauled away, and weave them through the fence, even going over the top, to obscure the fence.
I did this at a fine old home, one of the last remaining pre-massive redevelopment, that I was renting in Sarasota, FL. With the chain link fence, the large amount of broke glass, and other detritus that made this wonderful house the object of vandalism, the weaving of the fronds through the fence, in large part, brought too much attention to the home, and it was sold within months, even though long-term realtors and residents of the area had never before “seen” it. (Sorry about that. It pained me so to have to leave, and to tear out the improvements before I vacated).
Bottom line – the fronds dried hard, and could have been easily replaced as there was plenty of free material. The look was far better – elegant, even, than anything shown here, because all the fencing was obscured.
PS I wove the fronds horizontally, and did not need to thread through every opening. Understand that with this weaving, both sides of the fence were covered. A pair of pruning shears and something to sit on were the only other things necessary.