Whether you’re looking to increase the privacy of your backyard or keep curious pets on your property, there are numerous benefits to installing a wooden fence. However, this charming, classic material needs a bit more TLC than its competitors. To protect the picket fence that surrounds your dream house, use the following maintenance tips to your advantage.

How to Protect a Wooden Fence

1. Trim Wandering Plants

While they might look beautiful on stone walls and steel trellises, climbing vines are not welcome on wood fencing. Overgrown bushes, vegetables, herbs, and vines should all be trimmed regularly so they don’t crowd or cover the wood planks. For one, the moisture in the plants could soak into the wood, causing it to warp and rot. The weight of the plants could also cause your fence to lean or break.

2. Seal It

The best defense against wood rot is to install a fence made with pressure-treated planks. However, if you didn’t and you’re not entertaining the idea of a replacement, the next best option is to apply a sealant or a wood preservative. These transparent coatings will retain the shade of the wood while repelling rain and humidity. If you’d like to change the look of your fence, you can even use a combination stain and sealant.

3. Switch Out Your Sprinklers

While you can’t control the rain patterns or the moisture level in the air, you can prevent excess water sources from drenching your wooden fence. If any standard sprinkler heads are installed near the fencing—those that spray water outward from a circular piece—have them removed and replaced with a drip irrigation system. These allow droplets to slowly seep into the soil without spraying water into the air and onto the porous wood.
 

If you’re interested in learning more about how to protect your fence, or if you need to replace a damaged one, get in touch with Valley Fence of Kalispell, MT. Since 2004, they have been building gates, decks, patios, and fences to enhance homes in the Greater Flathead Valley area. To learn more about their design and installation skills, visit the website, or call (406) 755-9799 to schedule an appointment.