Cedar laneway fence built around a mature tree

A leaning laneway fence replaced with a cedar privacy fence and lattice top, built around a large tree instead of taking it out.

Weathered grey wood fence and stacked lumber at the end of a paved laneway between two garages

Finished cedar privacy fence with a lattice top, built around the trunk of a mature tree beside a laneway garage

About this job

The old fence at the end of this laneway parking pad had gone grey and was leaning, and it stopped short at a big tree, which left a gap and a patch of worn soil. We took it down and built a new cedar privacy fence with a lattice top across the full width of the pad.

We cut everything on site in the lane and set the posts and top rail first so the line was right, then filled in the boards. The back of the lot is properly closed off now, and the tree is still there.

The challenge

The tree sat right on the old fence line, with its roots spread across the ground where posts would normally go. A garage wall closed off one end, so there was very little room to adjust the layout.

What we did

We ran the new line behind the trunk and placed the posts to keep clear of the biggest roots, then fitted the rails to suit. The fence now runs straight from the garage to the far side, with the tree standing in front of it.

What this means for homes around the GTA

Laneways like this one run behind houses across midtown Toronto, York and East York, and big old trees are part of what makes those lots nice to live on. In Toronto, private trees 30 cm across or more (measured 1.4 m up the trunk) are protected, and the City’s rules cover injuring a tree as well as removing it, so digging near roots deserves a look before you pick a post layout. Our fence page covers heights and bylaws, and the Toronto guide explains the City’s process.

Where it started

Old broken wood fence directly behind a large tree trunk, with worn soil around its roots — The old fence stopped at the tree, leaving a gap and worn soil around the roots.

How it came together

Mitre saw on a stand in a laneway, with new fence posts going up behind it under a tree — Cutting on site in the lane, with the new posts going in behind.

New wood fence posts with the lattice top rail fitted, standing between a tree and a garage — Posts and top rail first, so the line is set before any boards go on.

Fence posts and horizontal rails in place under a large tree branch, with lumber stacked beside a garage — The frame in place, with rails cut to step around the tree.

The finished work

Cedar fence with lattice top closing off a paved laneway parking pad behind a mature tree — From the parking pad, the new fence runs straight between the garage and the tree.

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Planning guides for this work

Project planning

Why fences lean after winter, and what to check this fall

Frost, water and wind do most of the damage to GTA fences. Here is what to look at before freeze-up, what to fix now and what to leave until spring.

Read the guide →

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