Summer is finally coming to an end.  But as the hot days fade away, hurricane season draws itself closer.  Everyone is always talking about how you can prepare; batten down the hatches!  Go buy water and bread!  But your home preparedness is not complete if you aren’t protecting the areas surrounding your home.  That includes your yard.  Trees, flower beds, lawn decorations…and fences.  If you want to know how to prepare your fence for the incoming storms, read on.

Is Your Fence Old?

 

If your fence is beyond its years, it may be best to get a new one before you see a hurricane (although, it’s cutting it a bit close…which is why you need to do regular maintenance!).  Older fences could be rotted, or unstable, and may be ripped from the ground in high winds.  A dangerous warning sign is if the fence wobbles in relatively strong gusts.

 

What’s Around it?

 

As we’ve said, loose objects like lawn decorations or deck furniture can be easily blown around the yard.  Even trampolines can catch a strong wind and destroy your fence.  It wouldn’t take much force, actually!  Before the storm hits, you need to remove any loose object that isn’t secured into the ground.  Get your lawn furniture into the garage, and take your decorations inside for a few days.  Be especially sure to remove any flags or small flag poles, as these can cause dangerous problems.

 

Check Your Branches

 

Surrounding trees could easily fall and crush a fence.  A simple windbreaker could easily protect a tree that may otherwise topple.  You can use sturdy, long poles in the ground and wrap burlap around them; doing so all the way around the tree’s perimeter can break high winds and make it less susceptible to falling over.  This works especially well for smaller trees.  Another option is to regularly prune your trees and ensure that there are no extra branches that may catch wind.

 

Need a new fence for the season?  Call Mid Atlantic Deck & Fence today!

 

Mid-Atlantic Deck & Fence has almost 30 years of experience in building beautiful custom fences and decks throughout the state of Maryland. We have the expertise to design your dream fence or custom deck and have it installed in a headache-free process. Give us a call at 1-800-833-9310 or visit us online for a quote today! We offer many different styles of fencing and decking in addition to custom options designed specifically to suit your preferences and tastes. To see examples of our work and get more tips on how to choose the right fence for your family, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

 

Tags: fencing, fencing maintenace, Hurricane, storm protection