My garden looked perfect –or so I thought until I looked at the fence. The paint was peeling off, it looked old and tired, and I figured it needed a new coat of paint. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong, and I would have to wait longer before fixing the unsightly fence.
The best time to paint your garden fence is in 50°F – 85°F (10°C – 29°C) temperatures with a mild 40% – 70% humidity. Ideally, the weather should hold these conditions the day before, of, and after you paint your fence for best results.
This article will discuss the best time to paint your garden fence and how to determine that. I’ll also provide tips for preparing a wooden fence for painting.
The Weather Determines When To Paint Your Garden Fence
You can’t wake up and decide to paint your garden fence. If the weather is perfect, you’ll have no issues. However, if the weather isn’t ideal, you’ll have several problems.
- The wooden garden fence will be too damp to paint if it has been raining. If you choose to paint over wet wood, the paint will trap the moisture. The paint won’t dry, and the coated the damp wood will start rotting since it’ll retain moisture for a long time.
- Rain can ruin paint that hasn’t dried. Before you paint the garden fence, you need to know the weather forecast for the day. Avoid painting on a day when it’s likely to rain because it’ll wash the paint away. Latex paint needs at least six hours to dry before it rains, while oil paint needs 12 – 24 hours to set.
- When the temperatures are too high, the paint will dry too fast. It won’t set correctly, so the paint won’t adhere to the surface. The result will be peeled, cracked, or blistered paint.
- High humidity is also a challenge when painting your fence. It may not be raining, but if the humidity is high, the paint won’t dry. The condensation that forms on the fence’s surface in the evening or overnight causes streaks on the paint. It also keeps the paint from adhering to the fence.
- High winds will blow debris on the newly painted fence. Therefore, you’ll have uneven drying or a bumpy surface when the paint finally dries. High-speed winds will also blow off fresh paint from the fence. If it’s windy, the speeds shouldn’t be above 8mph (12.88kph).
Before painting your garden fence, you need to check the weather forecast for the next 24 hours. The ideal weather conditions are:
- Temperatures 50°F – 85°F (10°C – 29°C)
- Mild humidity (40% – 70%)
The weather should be the same at least 24 hours before and after you paint your fence.
How Long Should a Wet Wood Fence Dry Before You Paint It?
If you have a wooden garden fence, you need to be more careful when painting it. This is because wood absorbs water, and painting on damp wood not only ruins the fence, but the paint won’t dry as well as it should. If the wood is wet, you should give it time to dry.
A wet wood fence should dry for 3 days up to a month before you paint it. The total time needed depends on weather conditions, the fence size, and if it’s made of hardwood or softwood. Notably, hardwood takes a longer time to dry.
Painting over a wet wooden fence not only results in a poor paint job, but it also causes the fence to rot, leaving you with no option but to replace the entire fence. These extra expenses are avoidable if you get the timing right, especially after a heavy downpour.
Tips on How To Prepare Your Wood Garden Fence Before Painting
A wooden garden fence can last a long time when well-prepared before painting. Unlike other types of fences, you need to be extra careful to avoid painting over damp wood. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s difficult to tell if the wood is completely dry, especially if you’ve recently had some rains.
Here are tips on how to prepare a wood garden fence before painting:
- Clear the area around the fence. Mow the grass, remove gardening implements, or move flower containers away from the fence. If any plants or decorations are hanging on the fence, remove them.
- Put a tarp on the planting area. This will ensure the paint doesn’t ruin the garden area. If you have any plants nearby, this helps protect them from damage. You can also create a barrier to keep nearby plants safe from any paint spills.
- Inspect the fence for any loose nails or cracked boards. If you find either, remove and fix or replace as needed.
- Make the boards smooth before painting. Use a paint scraper to remove old, chipped, or flaking paint. Sand down the boards to remove splinters and knots.
- Clean the fence with a fence cleaner. Use a rag, thick brush, or spray cleaner to remove the debris, dirt, or moss. You may need to dilute the fence cleaner with water.
- Give the fence time to dry. Softwood dries faster than hardwood. The size of the wood boards will also determine how quickly your fence will dry. Your primary concern isn’t the water you used when cleaning the fence but the condition of the wood before you started preparing it.
- Check if the wood is dry. You can use a moisture meter to check how wet or dry your garden fence is before painting. Alternatively, sprinkle some water on the fence. If it dries immediately, then the wood is dry enough. If the sprinkled water beads up, the wood is too wet to absorb paint.
This 30 Seconds Cleaners Stain Remover (available on Amazon.com) works on multiple surfaces, including the garden fence, roofs, asphalt driveways, and sealed concrete. No need to scrub or pressure wash your fence. Simply spray it on your fence, and you’ll see the results within a short period. It targets moss, algae, and lichen, and it’s phosphate and bleach-free.
Painting the Wood Fence
Once your garden fence is well-prepped and completely dry, you can start painting. Wood preparation is important, but you also need to get the right paint. Oil-based paint is the best choice for wooden garden fences.
Here are the steps for painting your wooden garden fence:
- Test the paint. Choose a portion of the fence, preferably a hidden section, to test the paint. Allow the paint to dry and check after 24 hours. Confirm if you like the color when it dries, how it dries, and that it didn’t damage your fence.
- Apply primer. Once you’re satisfied, you can apply the primer. Use vertical strokes when applying on vertical panels. Similarly, use horizontal strokes for horizontal panels. Ensure the primer is completely dry before applying the paint.
- Paint the fence. Start painting from the top of the fence, working your way to the bottom. Avoid painting the same area twice or more times if you want to avoid a second coat.
- Double check your work. Inspect the paint job for missed spots or areas with paint that is too thin. You can fix these spots using your paintbrush.
- Apply second coat or leave to dry. If you’re satisfied with the color and texture, allow the paint to dry. If not, you can add a second coating.
This Rust-Oleum Classic Wood Preservative (available on Amazon.com) protects wood fences from rot and decay. It also repels water and prevents wood from moisture damage, mildew, mold, and fungi stains. It’s a clear liquid that you can use before applying paint of any color.
This video gives tips on how to paint a wooden fence.
Types of Paint for Garden Fences
Your garden fence adds to the appeal of your landscape. The type of paint you use determines how good it looks and for how long. Here are the types of exterior paint to use in your garden.
| Type Of Paint | Properties |
| Oil-based Paint |
|
| Water-based paint (latex/acrylic) |
|
| Primer |
|
Conclusion
When the weather is right, and if youuse the best paint and primer, a painted garden fence can last a long time. Ultimately, the type of fence you want to paint will determine the preparation process.
Take extra care to prepare wooden garden fences because wood absorbs water. It needs to dry completely before applying paint. Should you paint over wet paint, not only will you waste the paint, but you risk losing the fence to rotting since it will retain moisture.
You can read my other article on how to make any garden look nicer here: How To Make Any Garden Look Nicer (Ultimate Guide)
