4 Things To Do To Protect Your Fence This Winter

A new fence of any design can really finish off a landscaped garden, making it feel complete and safe, and giving you curb appeal in the process. But fences are perhaps the one part of the garden that people forget to maintain and therefore bear the brunt of the bad weather. We offer a year round maintenance service to all our customers, but if you’d prefer to do it yourself here are some tips and advice of what to look out for and how to prevent your fence falling into disrepair and ruining the overall design of your landscaped garden.

Overhanging branches
Overhanging branches can do real damage if you’re not careful. If it were to snow, the sheer weight of the white stuff would bring that branch even lower onto your fence, or it might snap off altogether. Tree branches also drip moisture onto your fence in wet conditions, which increases the moisture in the wood and causes wood rot too. Not to mention they can also discolour fencing by transferring organic matter. Cut these down before this happens to you.

Damaged panels
In winter the weather is much harsher, the winds are stronger, the temperature’s colder, and all of this can damage panels on your fence. Regularly check your fence for damage, and replace broken panels as soon as possible. This will prevent the damage from spreading and the fence from weakening.

Ensure your posts are stable
Your fence posts are what hold it up in the first place, so it’s highly important to ensure these are stable in the ground. Excessive rain can add a lot of moisture to the soil making the ground much softer than it should be. Check your posts are dug deep enough to be secure and stand up straight. This will ensure they are capable of supporting the weight of your fence, in regular and harsh winter weather.

Treat the wood
Be sure to treat your fence with a good quality oil-based varnish to preserve not only the quality, but also the colour of your wood. If you apply this correctly, it should also prevent wood rot. We would also suggest perhaps invest in some insecticide to stop woodlouse and termites eating through the wood, particularly on the posts. Finally, be sure to check you’ve applied the varnish correctly by applying a little water to the surface of the wood. If it runs down, you’re all good. However if it’s absorbed, it would be a good idea to give it another coat.

Keeping your fence in good condition helps with the overall look and ambience of your garden – but it can be a lot of work. If you’d like it done for you, give us a call!