5 reasons why you need to paint your garden right now

Autumn is here. That’s why I want you to paint your garden. Yes, I do mean right now!

In this post, I’m going to explain why autumn is the perfect time to tackle this vital garden job. And I’m going to show you a garden transformation, using paint that will blow your socks off.   

5 expert reasons to paint your garden this Autumn

Over the past month, I’ve been making over my garden and that included replacing my fencing with smart panels, putting up a wooden pergolaby Grange and investing in Rowlinson wooden planters.

That’s lots of exposed wood that needed proper protection in autumn, and over the winter months. That’s why you need ot take painting action – right now.
Let me run you through my 5 reasons you need to get painting….

1/ Paint protects exterior wood

Over the years, unpainted fences can be damaged by the weather resulting in them rotting and being covered in mould. The best way to protect exterior wood is with a good quality paint. A decent paint will create a barrier from the wet, protecting the wood from rot and fungus.

My gardener suggested I protect my new garden timbers before winter kicked in which is valuable advice. Her paint pick was Protek’s Royal Exterior Wood Finish. She advised one coat on now to protect my wood, then another coat which I can tackle in the Spring (see my point 3 below).

My thoughts on Protek: I found that this paint soaked into my exterior wood easily so that it will protect it from the elements straight away. The coverage is dreamy. And I liked that the paint is water-resistant with built-in mould and fungal protection.

2/ It’s too hot in Summer

Summer months can actually be too hot for painting as the paint can dry too fast. And you don’t want to paint in deep winter as it can be too frosty or wet. That is why autumn is the season to get your paint brush out – and protect your exterior wood (just look for a dry period).

An autumn garden can be easier to paint. When flowers and shrubs naturally die off, you’ll be able to reach areas of your fencing usually covered in blooms.

Don’t worry – autumn daylight is great for painting in – especially on a bright, dry day – and you’ll get an even paint finish.

3/ You can split the task

I found one coat of paint was enough to give great weather-proofing protection from snow, rain and mist.  Then in spring, I plan to paint another coat to get a pure white look – freshening the fences ready for the sunnier months. At least with one coat on, my wood looks better and I can sleep safe that that my garden won’t look a state when spring arrives.

Dividing up this garden paint job between autumn and spring will keep your outdoors looking great all year long.

4/ Lighten your Garden

Covering over the brown timbers with white has transformed the space from looking like a pub-garden, into a designer urban retreat.  My new white exterior woodwork sparkles in the autumn sun too.

Painting all my fences in white has made my indoor space feel bigger and brighter. The white fence panels bounce light into my kitchen and dining room as well.

5/ Add Colour to A Winter Garden

When winter arrives, your garden will go into hibernation and it will naturally look a bit sparse and barren. Painting your woodwork can add colour to your outdoor space during the winter.
I went for a delicate off-white called China Clay.  It’s almost like a heritage shade with soft blue and grey tones. It reminds me of chalky paints that I have used inside my home. It creates a subtle background for my evergreen planting.
You could be far bolder than me and go for Iris Blue, Pillar Box Red or what about this hot pink? It would add vibrant colour to your garden in the colder months.

Here’s my fences before…

and at the end of day one…

here’s the end result after just one coat

what a difference it makes to the space

My Fence Painting Tips:

• Before you start, prep your wood by scrubbing old fences clean with a wire brush and water (you’ll want to get rid of any green mould). Or cheat with a pressure washer to spray off dirt and grime.
• Choose a paint with a low VSO which is less harmful for your garden environment
• If your garden timber isn’t treated with a preservative then depending on the type of wood and product, you may want to use a Wood Preserver first.
• For my fences that had fiddly bits, I found a 6cm brush the easiest to use. I could tickle the hard to reach corners and paint the front sections in one stroke.
• The best thing about Protek Royal is that is super easy to apply. Although officially it’s a wood stain – it’s very much like paint in it’s consistency. Considering how much I had to paint, I managed 11 fence panels, 1 pergola and 7 planters in under 2 days.

Hope this post has inspired you to pick up a paint brush and head out into your garden this weekend. I’d love to see the results.

I’m going to be slowly revealing the full makeover of my garden in the Spring, so keep swinging by the blog. The fences and planters will be given another coat so that they are brilliant white.

Love this post? For more DIY garden painting inspiration, Protek have lots of clever (and easy) projects on their blog which you can see here.  You can also visit their Pinterest for lots of colour inspiration for your next garden makeover.

I’ve got lots of gardening inspo on my blog from Planning Ideas For Small Gardens to Blogger’s Garden Style Ideas and How-To prepare for a garden makeover.    

I’ll be showing off my finished garden makeover in the spring where you can see all my  design ideas in action – including this lush paving from CED-Stone.
Have a great week 🙂

** This is a collaborative post. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own.