Prairie clay, wind and fast-built lots
The soil across this region is often a heavy prairie clay that shrinks in dry spells and swells in wet ones. Posts set in a hurry or too shallow can shift with those cycles. Open ground with few mature trees means wind has a long run, so a solid fence acts like a sail in a storm. Builders also tend to set fences quickly, using lighter materials, and homeowners are sometimes disappointed when boards bow or panels sag after only a few seasons.
Planning for movement is part of building well here.
