The days are darker, it’s getting wetter – autumn is finally here! Chances are, you’ve enjoyed your garden throughout the summer, and now you’re tempted to retreat indoors. But not so fast – at this time of the year, garden maintenance is more important than ever. It’s not just about keeping your outdoor space tidy and bright – it’s also about ensuring your garden can endure the harsher seasons.
As experienced Wigan timber merchants, our team at Sherman & Young Timber has spent over 50 years helping customers take pride in their gardens, and we want your timber to stay fresh and functional for as long as possible. Here’s what you need to be looking out for in autumn!
Early warning signs of rot
At Sherman & Young Timber, though our sleepers, decking boards and fencing panels come expertly pressure treated for extra protection, they still aren’t immune to issues like rot. Caused by fungi eating away at wood, rot affects both the look and strength of your timber and comes in two forms – wet rot and dry rot, both triggered by moisture.
If allowed to spread, rot can cause significant damage to your timber. Catching it early can save money, time and keep your garden safe and fit for purpose. When dealing with either kind of rot, relying on your senses can help you identify early warning signs that something is wrong. These include:
- Smell – both types of rot can cause a unique smell around your timber, commonly described as damp, earthy and musty. If you smell a mushroom-y odour, it may be dry rot; for a rotting soil smell, it could be wet rot.
- Texture – sometimes, you can identify a problem with your timber simply through touch. Healthy wood should be strong, hard and solid – if you notice brittle, crumbly or spongy textures in your timber, it’s a good indication that rot might be present.
- Appearance – this is one of the main ways you can catch early symptoms of rot. A telltale sign of both wet and dry rot is a change in the timber’s colour, going darker or lighter than its usual shade. Another sign is called cuboidal cracking – this is when the wood cracks and forms cube-shaped chunks. You can also see early mycelium growth in the form of fine strands similar to a spider’s web. They may seem minor, but they’re a big sign that something is wrong. When dry rot is more advanced, you may spot a brown or red-orange substance called spore dust on your timber.
How to spot insect activity
It isn’t just rot that thrives unchecked in autumn – insects like wood-boring beetles can also damage your timber! You’ll probably be familiar with the larvae, commonly known as woodworm. Much like rot, they can affect the structural integrity of the wood – in products like decking, for example, they can cause serious safety risks if left to run rampant. When examining your decking, fences or sleepers, look out for:
- Exit holes or visible tunnels
- Frass, otherwise known as bore dust – a fine, powdery substance often found near exit holes
- Dead or live beetles
- Weakened or crumbling timber
What can I do to prevent rot and insect activity?
We’ve outlined what to look for – now what? We know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when dealing with rot and infestation, but there are simple steps you can take to prevent serious damage. Let’s look at preventative maintenance tasks you can do to keep your timber stronger for longer!
- Regularly examine timber, so that you can spot the beginning of a problem before it has a chance to spiral.
- Regularly clear leaves and other debris from your decking to prevent moisture build-up and rot, keeping an eye on particularly vulnerable areas like corners and edges. Piles of damp leaves on decking not only trap moisture but are perfect habitats for insects like millipedes, who will take advantage of already rotting timber and make the problem worse.
- Reseal or restain your timber every two or three years. This provides a barrier against rot and protects the wood against the elements.
- Choose quality pressure-treated timber. Replace boards as needed and use fungicides and woodworm killer where necessary.
Is your timber beyond repair because of rot or woodworm? If you’re looking for a reputable timber merchant in Wigan, then we’re here to help. At Sherman & Young Timber Merchants, we’ve been supplying quality timber and building materials for over 50 years now, and our team is always on hand to provide friendly and expert guidance. Give us a call on 01942 727 314 and we’ll make sure you find the right products for your project!
