How to Prepare Your Yard for Fence Installation

You've picked your fence, signed the contract, and your installation date is on the calendar. Now what? A little preparation on your end can make installation day go smoother, faster, and with fewer surprises. Here's what we ask Orlando homeowners to do before our crew shows up.

None of this is complicated, but it makes a real difference. A well-prepared yard can save hours on installation day, which means your fence gets finished faster and our crew can do their best work.

Mark Your Property Lines

This is the most important preparation step. If you have a property survey, pull it out and review it. If you have physical survey markers (usually iron pins in the ground at each corner of your property), make sure they're visible. Tie a piece of flagging tape or a tall stake to each marker so the crew can spot them easily.

If you don't have a survey or can't find your property markers — which is extremely common in older Orlando neighborhoods like College Park, Colonialtown, Ivanhoe Village, and Parramore — talk to your fence contractor about whether a new survey is needed. Building a fence even a few inches onto your neighbor's property can create legal problems that cost far more than a $300-$500 survey.

In many Orlando subdivisions built in the last 20-30 years, the original survey plat is filed with Orange County and can be obtained from the Orange County Comptroller's Office. Your contractor can work from the plat if physical markers can't be located.

Talk to Your Neighbors

You're not legally required to notify your neighbors before building a fence (assuming it's on your property), but it's a really good idea. A quick conversation can prevent a lot of tension and potential disputes. Let them know:

• When the work is happening
• What the fence will look like
• Where exactly it will be placed relative to the property line
• Whether the crew will need any access from their side

In Orlando's tighter neighborhoods — Audubon Park, Orwin Manor, Signal Hill, Lake Davis — where houses are close together, the crew may need to access the fence line from your neighbor's property for certain installations. Getting permission ahead of time avoids awkward mid-project conversations.

Some neighbors might even want to share the cost and get a fence that benefits both properties. That's a win-win that we see happen frequently in Orlando.

Clear the Fence Line

The crew needs a clear path along the entire planned fence line. Here's what to move or remove:

Items to Move

• Patio furniture, grills, and outdoor equipment within 6 feet of the fence line
• Planters, garden decorations, and lawn ornaments in the path
• Kids' play equipment — swing sets, trampolines, sandboxes near the fence line
• Firewood stacks leaning on or near the fence line
• Vehicles, trailers, and boats that might block crew or equipment access
• Dog houses and kennels in the work area

Vegetation to Address

• Trim bushes and shrubs back at least 3 feet from the fence line. Overgrown hibiscus, hollies, and crepe myrtles along property lines are an Orlando staple — they need to be trimmed back to give the crew room to work.
• Remove vines growing along the existing fence line. Confederate jasmine, trumpet vine, and Virginia creeper are common in Orlando and can be deeply rooted. Pull them out before installation day.
• Mow the lawn along the fence line. Tall grass hides survey stakes, sprinkler heads, and other obstacles.
• Identify trees near the fence line. Large trees close to the fence may have root systems that affect post placement. Let your contractor know about any trees within 10 feet of the planned fence.

You don't need to landscape the area perfectly — just clear enough space for the crew to work efficiently with their equipment.

Handle Pet and Child Logistics

Installation day isn't safe for pets or small children in the work zone. Post hole augers, power tools, open holes in the ground, stacks of lumber, and work vehicles create real hazards.

Plan for your pets to be:

• Inside the house during work hours
• At doggy daycare for the day
• Confined to a part of the yard that's not in the work zone (if your property is large enough)

If your fence project will take multiple days, the fence may not be fully enclosed at the end of the first day. Make sure your dog can't escape through any gaps in the partially completed fence. We'll let you know what sections are open at the end of each day.

For kids, the same basic rules apply — keep them away from the active work area. The crew will be focused on installation and can't keep an eye on children at the same time.

Remove or Mark Sprinkler Heads and Irrigation Lines

In-ground sprinkler systems are common in Orlando's newer subdivisions, and sprinkler heads near the fence line are at risk of being hit by equipment or buried by soil displacement. Before installation day:

• Mark all sprinkler heads within 3 feet of the fence line with small flags or stakes
• If you know where underground irrigation lines run, share that information with your contractor
• Consider turning off the irrigation zone near the fence line during installation to avoid flooding if a line gets nicked

We always call Sunshine 811 to mark major utility lines, but 811 doesn't mark private irrigation systems, invisible dog fences, or low-voltage landscape lighting wire. These are your responsibility to identify.

Prepare for Equipment Access

Our installation crews bring trucks, trailers, post hole augers, and sometimes small equipment like skid steers for larger projects. We need a way to get this equipment close to the work area.

Things to consider:

• Gate access: If your backyard is fully enclosed, is there a gate wide enough for equipment? A standard walk gate (3-4 feet) isn't wide enough for most equipment. We may need to access through a neighbor's yard, through a side yard, or by temporarily removing a section of existing fence.
• Driveway clearance: Make sure your driveway and any paths to the backyard are clear. Move vehicles that might block access.
• Ground conditions: Orlando's sandy soil gets waterlogged after heavy rain. If heavy rain is forecast before your installation date, mention it to your contractor — we may need to plan equipment routes to avoid tearing up your lawn.
• Overhead clearance: Low-hanging tree branches, power lines, and overhangs can interfere with equipment. Note any low-clearance areas along the access route.

Check on Permits and HOA Approvals

Before installation day, confirm that:

• Your building/zoning permit has been approved and is ready to be posted at the job site
• Your HOA architectural review has been completed and approved (if applicable)
• The utility locate (Sunshine 811) has been completed and marks are visible in your yard

If you hired Orlando Fence, we manage all of this for you. But it never hurts to confirm everything is in order before the crew arrives.

Plan for the Mess

Fence installation is a construction project, and construction creates mess. Here's what to expect:

• Dirt: Digging post holes in Orlando's sandy soil produces piles of dirt at each post location. We clean up as much as possible, but some soil displacement is unavoidable. Sandy soil can get tracked onto concrete driveways and patios — if you have surfaces near the work area that you want kept clean, mention it to the crew.
• Noise: Post hole augers, saws, nail guns, and hammer drills are loud. Installation typically happens during normal business hours (8 AM - 5 PM), but warn your neighbors if they work from home.
• Dust: Cutting wood generates sawdust. Dry sandy conditions create dust clouds when augering. Close windows near the work area if this is a concern.
• Temporary disruption: Your yard will look worse before it looks better. The area around each post hole will be torn up, and there will be construction debris until the project is complete. We do a thorough cleanup at the end, but the in-between days look rough.

What NOT to Do

A few things that seem helpful but actually create problems:

• Don't dig post holes yourself. We appreciate the enthusiasm, but our crews use specialized equipment and need holes at exact locations, depths, and diameters. Pre-dug holes are almost never in the right spot or the right size.
• Don't remove an old fence before checking with your contractor. If you're doing the removal yourself, that's fine — but confirm with us first. Sometimes we use an existing fence's post locations as a guide for the new fence, and sometimes we need the old fence to be in place temporarily to maintain your pet's containment.
• Don't pour concrete for post bases yourself. Post setting is the most critical part of fence installation. Incorrect depth, plumb, or concrete mix will cause the whole fence to fail.
• Don't water the fence line heavily before installation. Saturated sandy soil is hard to dig and doesn't compact properly around posts.

Day-Of Checklist

On installation morning:

• Pets secured inside or away from the work area
• Gates unlocked and access routes clear
• Vehicles moved out of the work path
• Sprinkler system off in the fence zone
• A clear spot near the fence line for material staging
• Your cell phone on — the crew lead may need to call you with questions

That's it. Do these things, and your installation will go as smoothly as possible. If you have questions about preparing for your specific project, call Orlando Fence at (704) 749-0642 or reach out online. We'll walk you through everything before your installation date.