Scale, Texture and Pattern

Consideration of these factors at the planning stage will help you make some decisions as to the type of wall you want. Open-screen walling units, available in a range of patterns and materials - including precast concrete and terracotta units - are useful for piercing solid walls and adding a decorative element. These pierced units are also useful as wind baffles - slowing down the wind over large areas - rather than creating a barrier that causes wind resistance.

The shape of most of our gardens tends to be regular - mostly a long narrow strip at the rear of the house and possibly a small square at the front. The most common mistake is surrounding a regular site with some structure that emphasizes this regularity. The simplest way to provide relief to the visual monotony of a site is to vary the materials used. Use brick or stone nearest to your house, and perhaps timber or concrete blocks for the rest. Alternatively, use one material, but vary the height of the wall at different points along its length.