🪴 Fence Before Landscaping? Plan It Right in Seattle and Beyond

Building Your Dream Yard, the Right Way

If you’re planning a new fence and landscaping project at the same time, you might be wondering:
Should I build my fence first, or landscape first?

This is one of the most common questions we get from homeowners across Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, Redmond, Kirkland, Shoreline, and nearby cities. And the answer? It depends on your yard—especially if grading or hardscape work is involved.

Let’s break it down so your project flows smoothly and your yard turns out exactly the way you want.

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🌱 If You’re Changing the Yard’s Elevation (Do This First)

If your project includes grading, terracing, or retaining walls, your landscaping should be done first—especially in the area where your fence will go.

Why? Because your fence posts (especially cedar post-on-pipe systems, which rely on precise elevation) need to be installed after the ground is in its final form.

Completing dirt work first ensures:

• Fence posts are set at the correct final grade

• Structural stability and long-term durability

• A cleaner, more professional finish

This is especially important in hilly areas like Queen Anne, Kirkland, and parts of Shoreline, where elevation changes are common.

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🌼 No Major Grading? Fence First.

If there’s no big elevation change planned, we recommend installing your fence before the landscaping.

Here’s why:

• Keeps foot traffic off delicate new plantings

• Prevents freshly laid sod or mulch from being disturbed

• Keeps digging and cleanup separate from finished landscape work

This is a common approach in flat lots across Redmond, Bellevue, and central Seattle neighborhoods. Installing your cedar fence—especially with our post-on-pipe method—before landscaping helps ensure a cleaner, stronger install without damaging your fresh yard.

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⚒️ Installing Pavers, Turf, or Hardscape? Do a Partial Fence First

Planning to install pavers, artificial turf, or hardscape that meets your fence line? Here’s the best way to go about it:

1. We install just the posts first (on pipe).

2. Your landscaper finishes the pavers or turf around those posts.

3. We return to install the fence panels between them.

That way, the wood portions of the post-on-pipe system sit just above the surface—clean, elevated, and protected from moisture and rot.

This hybrid approach is great for modern yards across Mercer Island, Edmonds, and newly designed outdoor spaces in Bellevue.

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🤝 Trusted Landscaping Partners

We often collaborate with top-tier landscape companies across the Seattle area—either by building fences for their clients or supplying high-quality cedar fencing materials when they self-perform the fence installation.

Some of the landscape teams we frequently work with include:

• Devonshire Landscapes – A full-service landscaping company that we’ve partnered with on both installed fences and material supply for their in-house builds.

• Scot Eckley, Inc. – Known for high-end outdoor designs; we’ve provided both custom fence installations and premium materials for their landscape projects.

• Seattle Landscapes – Whether they’re grading a yard or installing hardscape, we often support their projects with fence builds or cedar materials for their own crews.

These long-standing relationships help ensure that your landscaping and fencing projects come together seamlessly—no crossed wires, no delays, just a smooth and cohesive result.

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🔗 Helpful Links for Your Fence Project

• Rain City Fence – Home

• Cedar Fences

• Request an Estimate

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✅ The Bottom Line

Every yard is a little different—but here’s a quick guide:

• Doing grading or retaining walls? Landscape first.

• No elevation changes? Fence first.

• Installing turf or pavers to the post? Posts first, then landscaping, then fence panels.

Not sure where to start? We’re happy to coordinate with your landscape contractor to make sure everything’s done in the right order—and done right the first time.

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📞 Let’s Build Something Great Together

Whether you’re in Seattle, Bellevue, or just outside in Kirkland, Edmonds, or Redmond, our team at Rain City Fence is here to help you plan and install your new cedar fence—on your schedule and with your yard in mind.

👉 Request an estimate today and we’ll guide you through the best next steps.