When should you seal the bottom of a wood fence panel?

• A. If it touches the earth
• B. If water pools under them
• C. If there is less than 2 inches clearance from the ground
• D. When within 5 feet of a sprinkler head

Answer: (A)

Moisture transfer from soil is the key issue for wooden fence panels. When the bottom of a panel sits directly on the ground, water and soil moisture can wick into the wood, promoting rot and inviting pests. Sealing the bottom in that situation creates a moisture barrier, helping to slow and prevent wood decay where it would otherwise soak up moisture. If there’s a gap between the wood and the soil, airflow and drainage reduce moisture exposure, so sealing isn’t necessary and can even trap moisture if done improperly. Issues like water pooling under the fence point to drainage and grading improvements, not bottom sealing. Proximity to a sprinkler head doesn’t directly determine sealing a fence bottom; it relates to spray impact and irrigation management rather than moisture transfer from soil.