Any quality wooden fence is made to be tough, but even the toughest fence will need some help getting through winter unscathed. Here are some winter wooden fence maintenance tips to consider.

Inspect the Fence

First, look over your fence or have a fencing contractor inspect your fence. Ideally, you’ll do this before winter. Look for any damage to the wood, and check to see if any of the posts are loose. Have every problem repaired right away. Winter only makes problems worse, and those problems will be more expensive to fix.

Clear Leaves and Debris From Around the Fence

Clearing debris from around the fence should be a regular task anyway, but debris should really be cleaned up before winter. This includes fallen leaves, which can pile up, trap moisture, and encourage mold to grow on the wood of the fence. Moisture can also deform your fence posts. If there are so many leaves piled up against your fence, don’t hesitate to ask for help to remove them all.

You also shouldn’t allow anything to lean against the fence. These objects can help snow and ice to build up against the materials.

Remove Overhanging Branches

Overhanging tree branches also need to be removed from the fence. This is because precipitation can drip from them onto the fence. This isn’t good at any time of year, but in winter, the precipitation can freeze and stress your fence. Ice and snow, which are heavier than they look, also pile up on the branches and can cause them to break. When these branches hit your fence, they can cause serious damage.

Keep Shrubs and Plants Trimmed

Shrubs along your fence line may be attractive, but they shouldn’t be planted too close. The best distance between the fence and any planting should be between one and two feet. This can reduce the damage to the fence due to the freeze-thaw cycle. This is when the ground continually freezes then thaws until the shallow roots of a shrub or plant pop out of the ground. If they’re too close to the wooden fence, they can cause posts to rot. Also, the shrubs need to be trimmed to make sure they don’t touch your fence.

Remove Snow

Make sure to prevent snow from piling up against the fence. You might need to use a snow blower if you have a long fence, or again, you might want to hire a professional to do this.

Your wooden fence is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical, and you want it to last for years. Don’t let hard winters defeat it. For wooden fence care, get in touch with our professionals at R O Fence Services of Commerce City, Colorado.