Caring for your fence can be quite simple once you understand what can cause damage to wood and why. High quality pressure-treatment makes wood impervious to damage from insects (termites, carpenter bees, etc.), bacteria and fungi (the cause of dry rot and decay).  As long as your wood has been treated properly for the location in which it is being used, you shouldn’t have to worry about those common causes of fence failure.  But pressure treating doesn’t provide long term protection from the effects of weather.

UV light from the sun weakens wood  by breaking down its fibers, and exposure to air draws the natural protective oils from the wood leaving it vulnerable to cracking as it dries.  To protect your wood from the effects of weathering, apply a good quality, linseed oil-based stain/sealant once each year.