When it comes to maintaining your garden, there’s more to keeping everything looking neat and tidy than weeding the flower beds and cutting the grass. If you have a wooden gazebo in the garden taking pride of place, it’s you must care for it to keep it looking its best. 

For any garden gazebo, it’s going to be exposed to the elements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. If you own a wooden gazebo, you’re going to have to plan time, every year, for gazebo maintenance. Depending on your gazebos position, the extremes of sun, wind, rain and snow will eventually take their toll. Let’s look at ways you can look after your wooden gazebo to keep it looking its best for many years to come.

Gazebo Maintenance

When it comes to wooden gazebos, it’s important to remember that it’s a material that needs to ‘breathe’. Because of the conditions garden gazebos face, the wood will need to be protected. If it isn’t already sealed, then that’s your first job. If it is, then it’s something you’re going to need to do every year. 

You can use a clear varnish or stain to maintain the look of natural wood, but paint is also an option. It’s important to regularly treat the wood, from floor to roof including the rafters, ring beam, sills and thresholds. A waterproof top coat of varnish should also be applied for an extra layer of protection from the elements.

A wooden gazebo is going to share the garden with a multitude of plants and greenery. It can be tempting for you to blend both to create an oasis of calm, but you should try and avoid it where possible. Your wooden gazebo will look better for longer if you avoid allowing bushes to grow next to it, or climbing plants to grow around it. You should also try and keep larger trees away from its vicinity. The danger that branches (or the whole tree) can come down in high winds and damage (or even destroy) your gazebo, especially the roof, are very real concerns.

It’s also a good idea to resist the temptation to store things against the gazebo. Things like firewood for your fire-pit or bags of compost can trap moisture when placed against the wood. This means that bacteria can grow, damaging and weakening the wood over time.

The final step in looking after your gazebo is probably the easiest. Visually inspecting the gazebo regularly goes a long way to keep it looking its best. Use a ladder to check the roof is free from debris and cracks. The top of the gazebo is the place most problems occur and is the first line of defence when it comes to gazebo maintenance. If you see any problems, deal with them immediately. If not, they’re only going to get worse.

If any debris has fallen on the roof, use a stiff-bristled brush to remove them. Inspect it for mould and mildew regularly and remove it if you begin to see it. Any kind of fungal growth can spread quickly if left unchecked and wreak havoc on even on a wooden gazebo.

With a little time and effort, some scheduled inspection and gazebo maintenance, you can ensure that your gazebo will look its best for years to come. The good news is that it’s much easier when you know what to look for and how to prolong the lifespan of gazebos.

Thank you for reading this month’s blog. To find out more about the wooden gazebos we offer, get in touch today:

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