This post was updated on February 29, 2024
Do Deck Stains Harm Plants
Yes, but only when applying! When applying your deck stain it is very important that the stain only gets on the wood that you want to stain. Areas to avoid over spraying and drips during deck stain application are:
- The house siding
- Any glass windows
- Concrete next to and below the deck
- Plants and vegetation
Tips to Avoid Killing Plants with Deck Stain
Cover the plants with plastic drop cloths or poly tarps to avoid over-spray and drips during application. It is very important that you remove the tarps as soon as possible when you are done! Covering plants for more than 30 minutes on a hot day can create immense heat under the tarps and “burn” the leaves.
More Info on Killing Plants Using a Deck Stain
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For more info, see our Deck Stain Facts section with over 150 simple Q&A articles that answer all the questions that you have regarding deck staining, cleaning, and prep.