Five essential garden maintenance jobs

Homeowners are being told the best ways to maintain garden furniture, buildings and fences.

Experts from Gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk are sharing their advice on looking after valuable garden summer houses, fences and furniture.

They say the best way to keep gardens looking their best year on year is to perform annual maintenance on all wooden or plastic garden accessories.

Summer houses, fences and furniture all require attention, especially ahead of the warmer weather.

When it comes to wooden garden accessories, like furniture and summer houses, maintenance is essential to avoid moisture absorption and damage.

A spokesperson for Garden Buildings Direct said: “The sunny weather is on its way, and Brits across the country will be looking forward to hosting garden parties or BBQs and spending time in their gardens.

“This is why it is essential to maintain your garden. Things like plastic garden furniture require little maintenance, but can deteriorate overtime if not looked after properly.

“Summer houses are a popular addition to many gardens in the UK, they can even add value to your home when it comes to reselling. Give your summer house the best chance of maintaining tip top condition by following our super simple steps.”

Here are Garden Buildings Direct’s tips for garden maintenance: 

1. Summer houses 

Most summer houses are constructed with wooden frames, which can absorb moisture and lead to rot and damage if left untreated. Applying the right wood treatment can help to avoid this. Treat the wood as soon as the summer house arrives in your garden, then follow up with treatments annually. As the weather warms up, leave your summer house open during the day or evening to improve air quality, reduce condensation and create less favourable conditions for pests to nest and feed.

2. Plastic furniture 

Clean plastic furniture regularly with soap and water and store away for the colder months or during extreme heat in a garage or garden shed. Strong sunshine or cold temperatures in the winter can cause furniture to become brittle.

3. Softwood furniture 

Wash down softwood furniture regularly and treat it with a wood stain. Make sure to apply the wood stain on a dry, sunny day.  Annual maintenance should be adequate but treat  more regularly if required.

4. Hardwood furniture 

As hardwood furniture is the most durable, only a low level of maintenance is required. Once a year, wash the furniture with soapy water and a brush to keep it in top condition, remove debris and keep it clean.

5. Garden fences 

A pressure washer is a great tool for cleaning your garden fence, but make sure to use it on a gentle setting to avoid causing any damage. Rinse the wood, and fill the pressure washer with a mould and mildew cleaner. Use a smaller scrubbing brush to tackle stubborn spots like mould or tree sap. If you don’t have access to a pressure washer, simply fill a large bucket with warm water and your cleaner, and use a clean brush to scrub the solution into your fence.