Question
Marc,

I have just bought a home with a nice large back yard. It was landscaped a long time ago. The yard is divided with large grainy wooden steps that also line garden beds that extend to the sides. The whole yard also has a wooden fence. How do I take care of this wood that looks quite weatherworn without ripping it out? I would love to make the garden boundary a darker wood if possible. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time,
Rebecca

Answer
This product should kill two birds with one stone.  A product that protects the wood, extends its life, and darkens it so it doesn't look so weather-worn:

http://www.wooddefender.com/

A good product, especially for our area.  Here in the arid, high desert west, wood fences don't have a long life-span, as the extreme weather just sucks the life right out of them.  If you don't stain or seal it regularly, expect to replace it every 15 years or so.

~Marc