Property line border

[JMER817]

We are in the process of purchasing our dream property of 25 acres. (20 woods / 5 tillage). Been thinking of all the things I want to do, house & barn location, food plots, deer stands, garden location, shooting range, etc. One of the first things that I want to do is put either a row of pine trees, fence, or combination of the two along the south side property line. The line is currently in the middle of a soybean field. I want to create some type of border to create some privacy from the future neighbor. The property line is 1000 ft on that side. It is rolling, so in some of the low areas the pine trees really wouldnt provide any privacy until they grew quite tall. I also like the idea of some type of fence. I am leaning towards a mesh type to help control the future neighbor's possible pet(s), and our 2 dogs fom sneaking over. They could still get around it since the whole outline of the property would not be enclosed, but would help. I'm trying to decide what would be best. How close to the line to place either the trees or fence. Should I leave space on the opposite side to keep clean myself? Always liked the look at a combination of pine tree and maples in a single row. Just looking for ideas and what you have done, what you would have done differently, what worked and what didn't.

 

[Dingeryote]

Talk to the neighbor. Introduce yourself, and explain your intentions.
He may be thinking about needing a fence to keep all the city refugess honest.

Seriously, most times fences aren't needed, are a PITA, and create more angst than they are worth.
They also instigate hard feelings, unless you have a detailed survey done to back the line up when it is questioned.
Get to know the guy next door. Who knows, the fence might be an impediment to stopping in for a beer and the ball game, or coming over to get you unstuck.

Look into a buried wire fence for the pooches. They work.

 

[2458n]

Make sure you have a survey of the property marked with iron pins driven in at the corners, as well as at distances along the property line. Set your trees back far enough so that in 30years they will still be on your property only. I have properties effected both ways when the lines were drawn.

 

[Coyote machine]

Talk to the neighbor. Introduce yourself, and explain your intentions.
He may be thinking about needing a fence to keep all the city refugess honest.

Seriously, most times fences aren't needed, are a PITA, and create more angst than they are worth.
They also instigate hard feelings, unless you have a detailed survey done to back the line up when it is questioned.
Get to know the guy next door. Who knows, the fence might be an impediment to stopping in for a beer and the ball game, or coming over to get you unstuck.

Look into a buried wire fence for the pooches. They work.

He doesn't have a neighbor.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Even a three strand fence is better than just an open field. May not need a fence but over time an established physical property line can save lives we learned the hard way. Woven wire is not cheap but it is the best at stopping some animals and machines unless they are willing to use wire cutters. An abstract deed in hand is the number one requirement before writing the check.

 

[TedLaRue]

JMER817,

Keep in mind that privacy is a double-edged sword. A future neighbor who can't see what you're doing also can't see what a burglar/trespasser is doing, and can't see that you're pinned under your tractor, or that your house is on fire.

If a future neighbor is a good neighbor, being able to keep an eye on each other's place could be a good thing. That said, at our farm, we have a lot of privacy, no visible neighbors, but have a 1/2 mile gated driveway, so I don't worry too much about theft and haven't had any problems with theft. But I do sometimes worry about working on dangerous things when I'm the only one home. I worry a little less now that I can carry a cell phone with me. If we were closer to the public road, we would be worried a lot more about theft if no neighbors could see our place.

1000' feet of mesh fence is not cheap, and trying to maintain it would be a real PITA. Weeds will grow up through it and when you try to use a string trimmer to trim them, the fence will keep eating up your trimmer line every time your line hits the fence (which will be often). That is, if you can get your trimmer to start in the spring when you really need it. Believe it or not, weeds or even a heavy icy snow can mash down a mesh fence if you don't have posts pretty close together. Mowing close to a mesh fence can also create problems when the mower deck catches the bottom of the fence and drags it several feet before you notice....not that I've ever done anything stupid like that more times than I can count!

Dingeryote gave you some good advice about fences. I also agree with his advice about getting to know the future neighbor before trying to define a boundary. The problem is that if you err on the side of caution and plant trees several feet on your side of your perceived boundary, you could be conceding property to your neighbor. (There are laws about this: What is Adverse Possession? ) But if you plant exactly on your perceived boundary, you could create a dispute. Messy stuff. Either pay for a licensed surveyor or wait until you have a neighbor. A few feet one way or the other doesn't really matter if you both get along. Your future neighbor may be as interested in privacy as you are!

When we bought our farm, my grandmother gave me some good advice which, as I now regret, I didn't follow as closely as I should have. She said "Don't try to do everything at once." Your property offers you so many possibilities. Dream about all of those goals, but select only a few and concentrate on completing them. The other things can be developed later as you get to know the place and have the time.

 

[Western]

My 2 cents.

I say if you want a fence, put in a fence. If it upsets a neighbor, then anything you do, will likely aggravate them, it is your property.

If it where me, I would plant the trees some 15'-20' inside your line and put the fence a few inches also inside the line. This will give you a little ROW for maintenance/hunting trail.

BUT Not really a point to a one sided fence, it would compare almost to clear glass changing room at your local mall!!! UNLESS you intend to fence in the 25 acres over time.

I would use a 4-5 strand barbed wire fence and have a separate fenced area around/near the house for the dogs. Dogs running loose, WILL PO a neighbor. Also if you are planning on hunting, then you dont want dogs running around anyway.

You may want to build the dog fence 1st and see how you feel. If trespassing is an issue, no question I'd put up a fence all the way around my place.

Last "Field fence" (not mesh) I bought at TSC was 330' roll for around $150, not to bad. "T" post will cost you too, then the corner braces. It is good to have an "H" brace in the fence line at 100'-150' for added strength. I used the 32" and topped it with 2 strands of barbed wired wire for a total around 42" fence, deer easily clear this height.

 

[newbury]

Get a good survey and ask the surveyor what the practice is in your area for placing fences.

I believe the best practice is to place a wire fence on the line. Then drive your tractor and bush hog down the line and pretend you've got a 50HP tractor (or larger) and a suitable bush hog. Put the privacy break (pines) far enough inside so you can easily bush hog between the fence and the trees with your imaginary tractor. Take into account drainage features and rock outcrops when placing the tree line, but put the fence on the line as accurately as possible.

The most important part is an accurate recorded survey with pins in the ground. And put in some offset pins with precise measurements to the surveyor placed pins. If you don't have a fence or structure in place those iron pins placed by surveyors have been known to grow legs and walk about, usually to your neighbors advantage.

I just had a small suburban lot surveyed and found one property line was 6" INSIDE the neighbors driveway.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I agree.

Where the fence is set becomes the legal property line over time in many states so why give a few inches to the neighbor?

When just fencing to establish a physical property line with three strands of wire if the surveyor calls a small tree on the line but on my side I will nail to the tree for supporting evidence 50 years later.

Nothing is more important and a legal and physical property line on all sides even if it is your brother. ALL property changes owners over time because it just gets tired of us after a while.

 

[powerpace]

He doesn't have a neighbor.

I was thinking the same thing.

Even if he had an agreeable neighbor now the next one may not be so congenial. We don't live forever and neither do our friendly neighbors.