It was a bit of a lighter color as well.

If you were wondering what that floating red object is in the background, it’s the zip line tied up to the deck on the playhouse.We just put it up last year and it goes right across the creek!

It definitely adds to the fun cottagey atmosphere in our back yard!.Anyway, after I was done with all that staining and zip line admiring, I stained some more!The last thing I did was that beautiful barn wood counter top!.

Rustic perfection!.Here’s how everything turned out when all was said and done!.

It’s pretty great, if I do say so myself.

I love how the semi-transparent stain gives it such a rich color, but still lets the character of the barn wood shine through.So why does it need to stay down for several years?

I’ve actually read some suggestions that have said you only need to smother weeds for a few weeks.Well, we’re going to be leaving it down for 2-3 years.

This is because the weeds need a chance to go through their life cycles and use up all the stored energy they have in their roots.And our weeds have some big roots.