Helianthus annus ‘Sonja’
07.08.2023 - 11:42 / blog.fantasticgardeners.co.uk
Colder, darker winter nights and piles of fallen leaves often add up to some seriously slippery decking in your garden.
We might not be able to convince the UK weather to become a constant Malibu sunshine. But we can make sure that our decking stays safe to walk on all year round.
Here are a few basic things you can do to keep your decking safe and dry:
Let’s start with the basics. What causes slippery decking?
Most wood isn’t a sealed substance. Many types of wood can quickly become impregnated with water as liquid gathers between the fibres of the material.
To prevent this, wood needs to be treated either by your supplier or by you or your garden landscaper after it’s been put in place. You also need to be sure that there are no areas of your decking where water might naturally pool.
If water or even moisture regularly collects on your decking, it can lead to ideal conditions for algae, moss, and other growth to form.
This is often exacerbated in winter conditions, which tend to include less sunlight and lower temperatures.
Debris which builds up on the surface and in the corners of your deck is one of the leading causes of slippery decking.
Leaves and debris are a potential source of slippery danger in and of themselves. But they can also encourage algae, mould, fungus, and other growth to appear. Especially when they get wet and are allowed to remain in place.
It’s not possible to make decking non-slip by waving a magic wand. However, there are some simple steps you can take in order to improve the slip-danger levels of your decked areas.
The simplest step is the regular removal of leaves and other wet debris which are the major cause of slipping accidents. The build-up of these elements tends to start in autumn. If they are
Helianthus annus ‘Sonja’
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