As Garden Shades often goes on directly to the wood, without a primer, sometimes it will soak deep into the wood and this can create the need for a third coat. This may be noticeable with rougher woods, open end grains or indeed deep colours. If wood has been exposed and dried out for a long period of time, this may also draw the more of the product away from the surface and into the wood structure. Willow– The pale sage green shade has a very soft, inviting look that complements gardens nicely without overpowering. Willow resembles the colors found in nature. It will give a fence a lush, earthy feel that blends into the surroundings. Stir thoroughly before pouring contents into a Cuprinol sprayer. Overspraying surrounding areas can be minimized by avoiding spraying in windy conditions and by using cardboard or plastic as a shield. Any overspray should be cleaned up immediately (whilst still wet) with water and household detergent.

Apply in dry conditions, above 5 degrees Celsius and when bad weather is not forecast, minimum of 2 coats required. The final colour will vary depending on the surface and number of coats. If adhesion is inadequate on previous coatings, lightly sand before application. Make sure wood has been pre treated with appropriate wood preserver to prevent wood and decay. Olive Garden– If you don’t want to stray too far away from the wood shades of a fence, Olive Garden could work. The natural olive green tone perfectly captures the colors seen in nature. It has an earthy, organic look. Test a small area first for colour and adhesion: Colour the final colour will depend upon the type of surface, previous treatment and number of coats applied. If using more than one can it is advisable to mix them together in a container or finish in a corner before starting a new can. Adhesion: if adhesion is inadequate on previously coated surfaces, lightly sand before application. Urban Slate has an upscale, modern aesthetic. It gives a stylish, refined look to any outdoor space. Cuprinol Country CreamWe had a fabulous lunch whilst the Cuprinol (and Dulux) Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, talked us through the latest garden trends and how their Garden Shades are inspired by nature. Cuprinol’s “Natures Brights” Garden Shades Cuprinol’s “Nature’s Neutrals” Garden Shades Untreated wood: should be pre-treated prior to adhesion test with an appropriate wood preserver to prevent rot and decay. My love of color and pattern was completely missing from our garden. It was like my taste and style stopped at the bifold doors and I was always apologizing to guests when they came over, saying I liked the garden neat and tidy (devoid of character) and was going to let it grow wild (which was obviously a code word for I’m lazy!)

Apply only in dry conditions, above 5 degrees Celsius and when bad weather is not forecast. Application by brush: Stir thoroughly before and during use. Brush on product evenly along the grain. Minimum 2 coats required. Application by spray: Stir thoroughly before pouring contents into a Cuprinol sprayer. Refer to the Sprayer user guide for full instructions before every use. Cover any nearby surfaces in case of overspray. Any overspray should be cleaned up immediately (whilst still wet) with water and household detergent. During the Spring, I was invited to a Cuprinol event (the wood care partner of Dulux) as they were showcasing their Garden Shades range in the stunning location of the Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings in London.Cuprinol Garden Shades offer a wide variety of colours and finishes to choose from. Here are some of the best options to consider and where to use them: Cuprinol Fence Paint Colours I present to you my fence! And patchy grass (we’re working on it!) Against neutral house exteriors or stone, the olive green creates a noticeable contrast for definition. Amazing what a bit of garden paint can do! Cuprinol Natural Stone– Image: @visitnumber7 The greenish-gray beige tone pairs well with bushes, plants, and wood structures in gardens of any style. Cuprinol Olive Garden

Be mindful that it is waxed-enriched and that once these waxes are dried, they act to repel liquids, which would include an additional coats. Don't try to coat the whole project with one coat before getting onto the next coat. Instead it is better to paint sections in in time chunks of 2-4 hours. Sun exposure – Lighter tints hold up better in direct sun over time than darker shades which can fade faster. The soft white tone complements just about any garden style, from traditional to modern. It won’t clash. A beautiful shade of green allows for bright colours to be used in the garden. Cuprinol Willow MINIMUM OF 2 COATS REQUIRED. SUBSEQUENT COATS MUST BE APPLIED ON THE SAME DAY NO LONGER THAN 8 HOURS APART. IF NOT POSSIBLE, LIGHTLY SAND DOWN SURFACES BEFORE RECOAT TO ENSURE ADHESION.Marianne was extremely inspirational and it got me thinking about how I used colour in the garden. For Your Great Outdoors A Cuprinol promotional photo, I love the dark fence and pops of colour The mood you want to create – light, bright shades feel airy and calm, while bold saturated shades are dramatic and inviting. Neutral natural wood tones create a relaxed vibe. We put a new fence up around our garden and after a few months over the summer, it was already showing signs of damage. The fence is pine and it desperately needed painting. Smooth planed wood -Brush 10-12m2 per litre ,Spray 4-5m2 per litre. Rough sawn wood - Brush 3-5m2 per litre ,Spray 2-3m2 per litre Thankfully, I only needed to apply one coat as it applied really well and easily. We have concrete bollards holding up the fence panels and I did consider painting them as well, but in the end, I went with painting a pattern onto them with Iris to create a bit of a feature.