A gate sets up the entry way to a garden. Whether your garden is in the front, back or on the side of your home, the gateway, often adorned with flowers or ivy, invites curiosity. When painting a wooden gate, ensure that the paint you choose is water-proof -- protective paint to keep your work, and the entrance to the garden, looking fresh.

Instructions

• Tape the gate's hinges. Use painter's tape or regular masking tape to cover the hinges.

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  Pre-treat the wood before painting. Apply a clear, water-repellent preservative stain before priming. Treating the wood locks in moisture, enhancing the durability of the final paint layer.

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  Apply a coat of outdoor primer paint. Use a small or medium hand-held paintbrush. Primer paints are often either white or a clear stain. Coat the primer on parts of the wood gate you want to paint. Apply one or two coats. Paint on more if the wood is rough or splinters so the primer fills in those rough edges. Wait for the primer to dry, up to 24 hours.

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  Use a paint roller or large paintbrushes to paint the gate. Use an outdoor paint in any color. Waterproof paints are ideal, but not necessarily the only kind. Lambswool rollers hold a lot of paint and roll on smoothly and efficiently.

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  Use a small detail paintbrush to paint the hard-to-reach places. Let the paint dry overnight. If it's expected to rain, cover the work with a tarp, careful not too ruin the paint job.