From comfort to aesthetic appeal, a pergola offers a lot of benefits to a yard. It is excellent at enhancing the look of your garden and bringing personality to your outdoor space. But for all the perks that you enjoy by having a pergola, you must recompense it by maintaining it well. Many people forget about their pergola after installation and don’t pay much attention to its upkeep. While you may think that maintaining a pergola isn’t necessary, the reality is not such.
Much like any other home décor setups, pergolas need frequent TLC to continue serving its purpose for a long while. If you don’t give your pergola due attention, then the chances are that it will lose its novelty and appeal. Therefore, save yourself the easily avoidable hassle by maintaining your pergola timely.
Pergola maintenance is pretty straightforward and doesn’t require specialized training. Just make sure you are regular with the upkeep sessions, and your pergola will be good to go. Now, if you want to learn how to look after a pergola, here are five easy tips for you.
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Look for Stains and Scrub them off
Many pergolas have fasteners that are prone to corrosion and can lead to blotches on the beams. Be on the lookout for any stains on your pergola and if you see any scrub those off using warm water and soap. If you don’t tend to the stains on your pergola soon, they might get indelible.
Prune the Vines
One extremely essential pergola maintenance tip is regular vine pruning. Whether you have wisteria vines or honeysuckles, be sure to trim them periodically. Regularly nipped vines will not only tidy up your backyard embellishment but also keep the plants healthy.
Wash your Pergola
You don’t have to wash your pergola every week, but try to give it a bath once a month. Use any mild detergent to lather your pergola and then use a hose to wash it. Water from a hose will thoroughly clean your backyard embellishment and remove any dirt particles clinging in the crevices.
Clean the Area near the Grill
If you have a barbeque grill near your pergola, make sure to pay special attention to the part exposed to the smoke during the grilling season. Smoke from the grill can accumulate and blacken the structure of a pergola. Scrub the beams of your pergola after a barbeque party, and if you can’t do so immediately, make sure to do it as soon as possible. Don’t let the stain sit for too long.
Look for Termites
If you have a wooden pergola, always be on the lookout for termites. The sneaky critters can take over your entire backyard embellishment in the blink of an eye. Therefore, you must stay vigilant at all times. If you see any signs of a termite infestation, contact a pest control company if you can’t tackle it yourself.
Bonus Tip: Paint
If you want to freshen up your pergola, paint over it, and see a world of difference.
So, you see, taking care of a pergola is not that hard. If you do it consistently, you will not have to spend a lot of time at once. Only 15-20 minutes will be enough to give a quick scrub to your pergola.
