Transform your boring chain link fence into a natural and beautiful backdrop with this easy and budget-friendly chain link fence cover using branches! Say goodbye to an unsightly fence and hello to a charming garden feature.

This post contains affiliate links. As a Fusion and Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank-you for helping to support my blog!

When I moved into this home many years ago, I was blessed with a chain link fence that surrounds the entire back yard.

It’s been great keeping wildlife out of course! And the chain link gate installation was especially handy when we use to have a pet dog.

However, if I can be honest for a moment, I find chain link fences look very utilitarian if fully exposed. They do the job well and their durability can last forever, but they aren’t that pretty to look at. Plus, they do nothing as privacy screens.

I actually have a LOT of chain link, however most of it is hidden under grapevines and behind tall cedar hedges. Thank goodness! But some is not.

So over the years, I did attempt to come up with a few ways to cover the exposed chain link fence sections…

A variety of options to create privacy coverage over a chain link fence:

 

• use real plants or vines such as ivy, grapevines, honeysuckle, wisteria
• grow cedar shrubs along the fence
• reed screens or bamboo screen
• chain link fence slats or privacy slats
• hang an outdoor carpet with zip ties
• insert thinner wood fence slats
• install wooden fence panels in front
• add artificial greenery for chain link fence
• chain link fence mesh privacy screen

But I couldn’t come up with an inexpensive weather-resistant replacement that I really liked. So I did nothing.

Until today!

Last year I found an idea online where someone made a fence using just branches for their outdoor space. That would be amazing! However I still have the chain link fence to deal with. So I attempted to insert some branches right into the chain links along the front of the fence.

3 branches in, and I was done. LOL

Choosing just the right branches, size and such would prove to be incredibly tedious! So I left it until I came up with a better idea.

And that brain storm came to me today!

Over Christmas, I had a branch arch surrounding my front door covered in lights. I had just removed the branches to prepare for spring and was making plans to clip them short then bring them to the dump. But luckily, this idea came first!

Why don’t I try attaching these BIG branches to the fence to create a chain link fence cover?!

It was worth a shot.

And the effort proved worthwhile! I LOVE the rustic look of the chain link fence cover with branches turned out and can’t wait to show you just how easy it is to achieve! Plus, it was free! Sure can’t beat that price.

So while privacy fences are nice, this kind of fence covering is all about the look…

Here’s what I did:

Chain link fence cover with branches

 

Supplies you’ll need

 

Lots of tree branches of all sizes

Black zip ties in different sizes

Hand garden pruners

Start with the largest branches first

 

1. Hold up a large branch against the fence.

Attaching the branches with black zip ties

 

2. Attach the branch to the fence with black zip ties.

Using black zip ties made them basically disappear from view. And having 3 different sizes of zip ties proved to be very handy as I used a few of each size.

I held each branch against the chain link fence positioning it where I felt it would look ok, then used the zip ties to attach the branches to the chain link fence. 

3. Attach all the largest branches first using zip ties so they stay secure against the fence.

This gives you a good start for more balanced, even coverage.

4. Weave-in the smaller branches in between the larger zip-tied branches.

You can use more zip ties to secure the smaller branches if required, but for the most part, it wasn’t needed.

Covering the entire fence, including along the top and bottom

 

5. Be sure to place some branches along the top of the fence, and along the bottom as well.

This helps remove the squareness look of the fence. 

6. Keep adding branches until you love the look!

And watch those chain links suddenly disappear from sight! 

The more you add, the rounder your fence ends up. It’s rather cool!

7. Trim all the branches that stick out too far with hand pruners.

It’s also a good idea to trim off any branches near the lawn so future weed trimming and mowing won’t be an issue.

Fill in as many branches as desired

 

And the end result is a very nature-inspired rustic chain link fence cover! The rambling branches look so natural, and just chime in well with all the rest of the vining branches everywhere! 

And of course, you can add as many branches as you wish. I’ll be adding to my branch fence as I land more here and there.

I mean, who needs expensive wooden panels when you can a mesh of branches like this?!

What I also love about the branches is you can still see sunlight and some view through them, however they definitely can add a 30-40 percent privacy screen of sorts which is nice. 

I didn’t really do it for the privacy though. It was more to do something interesting to those bare chain link fence areas! And just a few branches was all this needed!

Time will tell how the branches will weather. I suppose one could use a wood preservation spray while they are on the fence. However I plan to just leave them be and see what happens.

I love the covered chain link fence! And so do the birds. They jump from branch to branch which is the cutest thing to watch!

I’m also super curious how this will look once everything else is in full bloom. Stay tuned and I’ll update this post once we are there!

Video tour – Chain Link Fence Cover with Branches

 

.

Visit above to see how stunning this looks in real life!

I love coming up with inexpensive ways to do stuff. And this chain link fence cover using branches is certainly a fun way to use up pruned branches while achieving a super unique and rustic look for the backyard! 

Isn’t this a fun idea?! Think you may try covering your chain link fence with branches or another idea?

Check out many more unique garden projects to make HERE