Invisible green was made from either a tar or linseed oil paint pigmented to a dark green color.  Invisible green was promoted because it allowed the fence to fade into the background giving a similar effect to a haha wall, but with much less expense.  Because of Madison’s interest in the English gardening style as well as the fence's very prominent location, the Restoration Team, along with the Restoration Advisory Committee, decided that the fence should be painted a modern, invisible green-colored, acrylic-based paint  to replicate the historic linseed oil-based paint.