Don’t Forget the Deck When Winterizing the Yard
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The kids are back in school, summer grilling
and outdoor lounging is over, and in most spots across
the United States it’s just too chilly or wet
to cavort on the backyard deck much longer. We are all
familiar with the importance of preparing our home’s
gardening areas for winter so we can hit the ground
running with a beautiful yard and garden in the spring.
Whether it’s trimming, pruning or mulching, there
are a number of things that can be done in the fall
and winter that virtually guarantee a more successful
landscape come spring.
The same can be said of one of your biggest backyard
asset -- the wood deck. With the arrival of fall and
cold weather, it is essential to keep your deck protected
through the dormant months. Decks, after all, are a
valuable outdoor addition well worth protecting.
“Most people think of landscaping
tasks, but deck maintenance is equally as important.
Investing just a small amount of time before the worst
of winter weather hits can make all the difference in
how your deck will look and perform as the temperature
fluctuates,” explains Peter Lang, general manager
of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.
Western Red Cedar decks are loved
for their all-natural charm and beauty, and many homeowners
are familiar with the regular maintenance needed to
keep wood decks looking their best. Even decks made
of western red cedar, one of the best performing wood
species for outdoor applications, need occasional maintenance
to keep them in top shape. Regular deck upkeep enables
a cedar deck to last for years, even decades.
To make your spring deck maintenance
easier, the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association (WRCLA)
recommends these simple tasks right now:
Remove Dirt and Debris
Sweep away all leaves, needles
and branches from your deck and remove all debris from
between deck boards. Dirt and leaves can build up, causing
standing water or other moisture to stay on top of the
deck rather than drain through. Proper ventilation is
crucial to avoiding moisture build up.
Eliminate Mildew
Mildew should be removed from
a deck soon after it appears. Allowing it to grow untreated,
even in the winter, can lead to additional deck damage.
There are a number of commercial products that can be
purchased at any home center or retail lumberyard. The
WRCLA suggests killing and removing mildew with a simple
solution made from items you have in your home right
now.
Using a common garden sprayer,
combine 3 quarts of water, 1 quart of oxygen bleach
and 1/4 cup of ammonia-free liquid dishwasher detergent
within the spray canister. Apply the solution liberally
to the deck surface and allow the mixture to set for
about 10 to15 minutes. The bleach will kill the mildew
and the dishwasher detergent helps emulsify the mildew
to aid in its removal. Liquid dishwasher detergent works
better than regular dish or laundry detergent because
it will not foam.
After allowing the solution to
set, simply rinse the surface clean. For tougher mildew
stains, apply the solution with a soft bristle brush.
Pots and Planters
Setting planters and pots directly
on a deck’s surface may cause staining. Consider
removing planters from the deck or moving them around
on a regular basis to decrease the effects.
Or, place planters onto a 2 inch
by 2 inch cedar board to create space between the deck
and planters. Cedar has natural compounds that form
a resistance to deterioration, rot and decay -- it is
these same compounds that give cedar its unique fragrance
-- and the extra space created by the cedar will allow
moisture to evaporate and promote a healthy deck.
Snow Tips
If shoveling snow off your deck,
run the shovel lengthwise on the deck boards. Shoveling
cross-wise can scratch or cut in to the wood. Consider
using a plastic shovel to decrease scratching and avoid
salt or other ice melters; they may discolor or damage
some deck finishes.
Planning for the Spring
With some initial maintenance
and repairs already taken care of, you will have more
time to tackle other projects once the weather improves.
Maybe this is the year to consider adding a cedar trellis,
gazebo, pergola or other outdoor structure?
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