A backyard transformation can be quick and easy!

We, Mark and Nicky, the owners of Discount Landscape Supplies, are in the process of giving our backyard a bit of a spruce up. There’s so much to consider! Fences, gardens, patio, irrigation – how the yard should look and function, and can it be done on a tight budget?

In order to keep costs down, we chose to do the fence and garden ourselves. We wanted the boundary fence to really complement the greenery that we have planned for the garden beds, but were unsure of how to achieve this.

Then Mark suggested an unlikely product that we stock here at Discount Landscape Supplies.

It is a black fence stain, which is very on-trend, named “StudX Black Fence Finish”. It is actually used in rural applications to stain wooden fence posts a beautiful black colour, and it has a bitter taste additive in it that deters horses from chewing on wooden fence posts!

At $125 for 20 litres, it was certainly a cost-effective alternative. So, we decided to give it a try.

We were absolutely thrilled with how good it looks, and are excited to see how it will appear with greenery planted in front.

Before:

After:

Why stain your timber fence instead of paint?

In many instances, it is quicker, cheaper, and easier!

We did not need to prime our timber fence, which saved us time and money.

Whilst we chose to apply the stain using a roller and brush, an alternative option is to apply using a spray gun to make the job easier again. We were working on a windy day and didn’t want to accidentally paint our neighbour’s property which is why we ended up doing it by hand.

Stain does not appear patchy. The wood absorbs the stain (and, in turn, reduces water absorption) and uses the colour to highlight the unique character of the timber such as grain and knots. Unlike its paint counterpart, stain does not crack or peel, and is a beautiful, cost effective, low maintenance alternative to traditional fence painting options.

Wait, I thought you said this product is for horses?

Yes, this product has been used to create beautiful, un-chewed fences in rural properties. It is also great for deterring dogs that like to chew! So, if you have a pooch that likes to destroy your timber – this is the staining product for you.

The StudX Stain is made from non-hazardous materials and is environmentally friendly, and safe for the family. Best of all, because it is water based, clean-up is super easy.

Pro-Tip: We suggest painting with your mouth closed, because we can confirm from firsthand experience, it tastes awful. However, it has no weird smell and looks just like any other stain.

A sneak peek…

The completion of our backyard transformation is still a few months away. The newly stained black fence will help to highlight a stack stone feature wall, and limestone garden surrounds. There will be lush green foliage in the garden in front of the fence, which should really stand out against a black backdrop.

Here’s a glimpse of our colour selections:

In its entirety, the fence staining project took us under a day, and we still have ½ a bucket of stain left to use on our other timber boundary fences.

Thanks for following along on our little backyard makeover!

Nicky

We are documenting our backyard renovation on our socials. Follow us on Instragram for before / after pictures, money saving tips and more. Check us out @discountlandscapesupplies

Follow our blog next week, which will include tips for choosing an honest and reputable pool builder.