Winter Ready

Prep your fence for winter with these top tips from Forest Garden

It has to contend with everything the Great British weather can throw at it, quite literally. So isn’t it time you showed your garden fence a little bit of love.

According to the experts at Forest Garden, absolutely!

Forest Garden, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of wooden garden products, make up to 55,000 fence panels each week – that’s enough to create a 600km fence! And they take winter preparation very seriously.

Here’s their advice on avoiding the worst of the damage.

Jenny Davis, Head of Marketing at Forest Garden, said: “Our fences are subject to it all, torrential rain, the hot beating sun and high winds. But if you act now, you can help protect your fence from the very worst damage with just a few simple steps.”

Clean and Inspect

Start by removing any leaves, dirt, and debris from your fence. This will help prevent moisture buildup and rot. Carefully inspect the fence for any damage and be sure to address any issues quickly.

Clear Overhanging Branches

Trim back any tree branches that are hanging over your fence. This will prevent damage from falling branches during winter storms.

Posts

If you want your fence to remain upright, checking your posts is essential. Concrete posts that have become loose in the ground should be dug out and reset in fresh concrete.

Rotten timber posts should be replaced or repaired using steel repair spikes or concrete repair spurs. 

Repair and Reinforce

Fix any damaged areas, including replacing loose or broken boards. Reinforce any panels that are damaged, but if damage is extensive the whole panel should be replaced. Remember, if the high winds hit, fences tend to act like sails in the wind. They can literally get carried away.

Forest Garden has a wide range of designs with a choice of style, construction, treatment, height, posts and accessories. The collection brings together the latest designs combined with innovations, from traditional to noise-reducing panels, to decorative screens and low-level fencing. 

Forest Garden fencing carries either a 10 or 15-year anti-rot guarantee.

Fence panels start at £38.49 per panel and are available now from Forest Garden.