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Some folks just aren’t happy with their front yards until they’ve erected a miniature stockade around them. I couldn’t count how many 3-foot-high chain-link fences I’ve seen placed right up against the sidewalk – occasionally protecting a lovely garden, but more often surrounding a stone-dead lawn.

I’m not sure about the psychology of front-yard fences – one could go on and on about it, I suppose – but I’m quite sure about the aesthetic result: bad.

Such dinky little fences could hardly be for security, because anyone with a faint pulse could vault over them. More likely, it’s a territorial thing. You know – stay off my dead grass, or else.

Rather than keeping the bad guys out, however, those fences more often just prevent homeowners from enjoying their yards.

Although a fenced-in yard or two probably is inevitable on the average neighborhood street, there’s no rational cause for a whole row of front yards to be partitioned off into desolate little pens. There are plenty of alternatives that are more attractive.

In my book, the best front-yard fence is no fence at all. But if a barrier of some sort is de rigueur, ponder these things.

Before building, identify the objective. Fences – and every other form of barrier – have only three basic purposes: to keep things in; to keep things out; or to sit there and look pretty.

Things to be kept out might include people, animals, noise or prying eyes. Decide which is the main target, and then choose the least obtrusive barrier that will do the job.

If the goal is just to discourage casual trespassers – whether two-legged or four-legged – consider a different form of barrier before resorting to a fence.

A row of dense, low shrubs with nasty thorns or spiky leaves, for example, will keep out most mischievous kids. To keep animals in or out, an appropriate-sized wire-mesh fence concealed behind shrubs will handle anything short of a mad dog.

If the aim is to keep out criminal types, forget it. No fence of any description will keep out someone who’s determined to trespass. Moreover, a solid fence is worse than none at all. A burglar will probably be grateful that neighbors can’t see him while he’s breaking into the house.

As security measures go, it’s much more cost-effective to connect existing outdoor lights to a motion detector, which can be purchased for a reasonable price at any hardware store.

If the idea is to exclude noise or prying eyes, landscaping again offers an alternative to a privacy fence, which would have to have solid planks at least five feet high to be effective. Tall shrubs such as privet give a much friendlier look from the street, and the dense leaves absorb street sound better than a fence.

Lastly, if a fence is meant mainly for decoration, don’t settle for a run-of-the-mill chain-link one. Chain-link is excellent for many applications, but thanks to its institutional look, it’s probably the least attractive.

A fence with conventional wood posts will have a much warmer look, and can be finished with wire mesh, planks, lattice or any number of interesting materials.

Arrol Gellner is a California architect, college teacher and syndicated columnist who writes about architectural issues. Follow him on Twitter – @arrolgellner. ©2013 Arrol Gellner Distributed by Inman News