Should Fence Pickets Touch Ground?

When building a wood fence, be sure to plan for a space between the pickets and the ground. ... Your posts and rot boards (if you choose to install them) should be the only fence components that contact the ground. Wood pickets should never touch it.

How far should fence pickets be off the ground?

Most situations call for a picket fence that is 2 to 5 inches off the ground. However, it's important to pay attention to the environment around the fence line, and if necessary, position the fence a couple of inches higher.

Should fence pickets touch each other?

The pickets overlap by at least one inch on each side of the boards. So, for example, six-inch fence boards would be spaced approximately 3 1/2 inches apart since the actual width of the six-inch board is 5 1/2 inches.