Protecting Your Fence in the Winter

When the winter months roll in, most of us will head inside and wait for spring to arrive. However, the weather usually has other plans. And just as it is important to shovel your driveway and care for your gutters, it is crucial to care for the long-term health of your fence. The winter months can be especially harsh, regardless of whether your fence is made from wood or metal. Luckily, there are steps you can take to mitigate potential damage to your fence and keep it looking pristine for March.

1. Clean Your Fence: Staying inside where it is warm probably sounds a lot better than going outside into the cold, but unfortunately, you should still be cleaning your fence once a month in the winter. As moisture builds in the air and on your fence, mold can begin to grow which causes damage to your fence and potentially affects your health. Power wash your fence if at all possible, and when the temperature gets warmer, repaint your fence with a waterproof solution.

2. Shovel Away Snow: No matter whether it is packing or powdered, it is important to shovel snow away from your fence before the moisture begins to rust the metal or rot your wood. The weight of the snow can also become an issue: as it presses against the fence, it can warp the slats. Additionally, if you have a wood fence, it is important to avoid salting it. This is because salt can cause not only discoloration but also cracks in the wood if your fence is exposed for too long.

3. Remove Debris: Following from the above point, it is critical to remove any leftover autumn leaves or other debris from around the base of your fence before the heavy winter months roll in. This is because leaves hold moisture that can warp a wooden fence. At their least damaging, leaves fade the color of your fence—turning your strong brown into a faded gray. Lastly, piles of leaves can be home to insects that are trying to survive through the winter, which can lead to fence rot.

4. Cut Back Tree Limbs: Keeping leaves away from your fence is not only important at ground level, but it is important in the air, as well. In this case, the moisture from leaves drips down onto your fence, causing similar kinds of damage. The real concern here, however, is avoiding damage to your fence from falling branches. When snow accumulates, tree limbs are liable to snap off and come crashing down on your fence. Trimming your branches is an easy way to avoid a major reconstruction.