Keep your garden fence & deck in top shape: seasonal checklist

Your garden fence and deck get hit with the weather all the time. If you do not take care of them, the wood will warp, change color, and start to rot. This will cost you a lot of money to fix. The good thing is that if you make a list of things to do every season, your garden fence and deck will look great, and the wood will last longer.

Here is a simple guide to help you take care of your fence and deck. It is divided into seasons so you can keep your garden fence and deck looking their best.

Spring is the time to fix the damage that winter caused and get your outdoor spaces ready for the warmer months.

You should check your spaces for damage that happened during the winter. Look for cracks and loose boards, broken fence panels, and posts that're not stable.

You need to clean everything. Use a broom or a pressure washer to remove the moss, algae, and dirt. If you have a deck, use a cleaner to remove stains and make the colour look nice again.

Now you should fix anything that is broken. Replace the screws that are missing, fix the boards that are broken, and make the posts stronger. If you do these jobs now, you will not have to spend a lot of money on repairs later.

You should also protect your spaces with special treatments. Once everything is clean and dry, you can apply a treatment that will protect your spaces from the rain and the sun. This will help your outdoor spaces last longer and look nice.

Summer sunshine is nice. It can also hurt your wood. The sun can make it look bad and dry it out. This is a time to keep your wood safe from the sun.

* Re-stain or paint – Give your fence a coat of paint or stain to make it look new and protect the wood from weather damage.

* Check fixings and nails – The sun can loosen the screws and nails that hold things together, so you should check them. Tighten any that are loose.

* Keep plants under control – Cut back any plants that are growing up your fence or over your hedges. If plants get too big, they can hold too much water and make the wood rot.

* Prevent warping – If it's hot outside, spray your decking with water now and then to keep it from cracking or getting smaller.