Wood is part and parcel of most UK gardens. It can be in the form of fencing panels and gates, garden furniture and in more recent times, wooden decking has become more and more popular. Wood is no trouble to work with, cheap and readily available throughout Britain.
One of the main disadvantages of wood is that it rots, In particular the kind of softwoods used to make fencing panels. There is no getting away from this, it's a natural product and when it is exposed to the British weather, it starts to warp, discolour and in the course of time, breaks down. Keeping the base of the fence panel out of the soil by using gravel boards is vital.
Often, the wood is Tanalised, pressure treated at the sawmills soon after cutting, prior to exposure. The wood is dipped in a treatment to produce some level of protection, but this isn't enough for garden use.
When rain stops beading on the wood, this is when your fencing or furniture needs attention. Here in the UK, you can expect to treat your wood approximately every two years unless it's very exposed. For best results sealing followed by staining will make your wood look good and keep it protected.
Over the years coatings have been manufactured to help coat the wood we use in our gardens. Many people will be familiar with Creosote. It used to be available in colours ranging from light brown to dark brown, oil based and foul smelling. It's no wonder that in the design-led world we now live in, this just doesn't cut it.
A few years ago, Cuprinol part of the chemical giant ICI, brought out a range of coatings in fresh new colours such as blues, greens and reds, to protect and give a lift to fences, sheds and outside furniture. At last, garden designers are no longer restricted to boring browns when protecting outdoor woodwork.
When treating the wood, take off any spider webs, bird droppings or other debris with a brush, and make sure you can get to the corners behind shrubs and bushes. Wear eye protection and gloves even if the manufacturer doesn't recommend it. Use a good quality brush so that you don't spend half your time picking out lost hairs, or even better, invest in a sprayer for a good, even coat. Don't spread the coating too thinly, and make sure you get in all the gaps. This is particularly vital with fence panels.
A few words of warning. Be very careful with pets and wild birds. The preservatives in many coatings will contain chemicals that may be poisonous to animals. Check extremely carefully before applying to bird tables or feeding stations, rabbit hutches, dog runs, chicken houses or coups and be especially aware of ponds with fish.
Finally, yes it will take a little while to treat all of your garden wood, but it's not as expensive as replacing and will enhance the look of your garden while your enjoy your BBQs, beers and spend time in your shed. Go wild with a bit of colour and if you don't like it, you can always change it next year.
Deutsch Portugiesisch übersetzer
Natural beauty tips
One of the main disadvantages of wood is that it rots, In particular the kind of softwoods used to make fencing panels. There is no getting away from this, it's a natural product and when it is exposed to the British weather, it starts to warp, discolour and in the course of time, breaks down. Keeping the base of the fence panel out of the soil by using gravel boards is vital.
Often, the wood is Tanalised, pressure treated at the sawmills soon after cutting, prior to exposure. The wood is dipped in a treatment to produce some level of protection, but this isn't enough for garden use.
When rain stops beading on the wood, this is when your fencing or furniture needs attention. Here in the UK, you can expect to treat your wood approximately every two years unless it's very exposed. For best results sealing followed by staining will make your wood look good and keep it protected.
Over the years coatings have been manufactured to help coat the wood we use in our gardens. Many people will be familiar with Creosote. It used to be available in colours ranging from light brown to dark brown, oil based and foul smelling. It's no wonder that in the design-led world we now live in, this just doesn't cut it.
A few years ago, Cuprinol part of the chemical giant ICI, brought out a range of coatings in fresh new colours such as blues, greens and reds, to protect and give a lift to fences, sheds and outside furniture. At last, garden designers are no longer restricted to boring browns when protecting outdoor woodwork.
When treating the wood, take off any spider webs, bird droppings or other debris with a brush, and make sure you can get to the corners behind shrubs and bushes. Wear eye protection and gloves even if the manufacturer doesn't recommend it. Use a good quality brush so that you don't spend half your time picking out lost hairs, or even better, invest in a sprayer for a good, even coat. Don't spread the coating too thinly, and make sure you get in all the gaps. This is particularly vital with fence panels.
A few words of warning. Be very careful with pets and wild birds. The preservatives in many coatings will contain chemicals that may be poisonous to animals. Check extremely carefully before applying to bird tables or feeding stations, rabbit hutches, dog runs, chicken houses or coups and be especially aware of ponds with fish.
Finally, yes it will take a little while to treat all of your garden wood, but it's not as expensive as replacing and will enhance the look of your garden while your enjoy your BBQs, beers and spend time in your shed. Go wild with a bit of colour and if you don't like it, you can always change it next year.
Deutsch Portugiesisch übersetzer
Natural beauty tips