George Washington was very advanced in his use of enclosures. While it may seem difficult to imagine the purpose of fencing in maintaining the quality of soil, Washington used a variety of fences to keep animals both on and off fields. He wanted livestock pastured in fields of grasses because their manure acted as a natural fertilizer.

Hurdle fences were small and moveable and used primarily to keep animals in an area for grazing and manuring.

Post and Rail was a permanent fence to mark boundary lines and keep animals on and off permanent fields.

Split rail fences were moveable fences used primarily around fields. The advantage to a split rail fence was they could be laid around trees and other obstacles.

Wattle fencing was a tightly woven fence primarily used to pen poultry and other small domestic animals. This provided protection against predators such as fox.