The least expensive fencing that also looks quite good is 'post and picket' fencing and it comes in a few different styles. This style of fence is also the easiest for a do it yourselfer, so this is a fence style that you may want to take a close look at. If you plan on installing this type of fence then you will first want to use construction grade string pulled tightly along the course that you plan on taking.

If you don't use a string to guide you, the finished product will not be straight and it will be very noticeable. Post holes should be six to eight feet apart and no more. Use a felt pen to mark off along the string where your posts are going to go and make them all as evenly spaced as possible.

Then dig all of your post holes and they should be approximately eighteen inches deep. Don't go too deep unless you have ten foot long posts or they will end up being too short. Also, you want them to be able to hold some cement along with the post, so they should be approximately eight to ten inches wide.

Set your posts using a level held on the sides of them to make sure that they are perfectly straight. You can tack temporary stakes on the sides of them to hold them straight while the cement cures. Allow the posts to sit overnight, so the cement will be nice ans solid when you begin to build your fence.