To sustain the longevity of a fence, consistent care is crucial. Although fences stand as silent guardians demarcating boundaries and providing privacy, they often suffer from neglect. To ensure your fence remains robust and attractive for years to come, here are maintenance tips that might appear counterintuitive but can significantly extend its life.

Firstly, embrace nature's whimsy by allowing vines to entwine around your wooden posts. While conventional wisdom suggests vegetation may cause dampness and rot, certain vine types actually shield wood from harsh weather elements, thereby preserving it.

Secondly, paradoxically ignore small cracks in vinyl fencing. These fissures might seem like breaches waiting to expand; however, vinyl has an inherent flexibility that often enables it to self-heal when exposed to the sun's warming rays.

Thirdly, invite rust on iron gates. Rust acts as a barrier against further oxidation; hence when a patina of rust forms naturally over ironwork, it can protect the metal underneath from deteriorating quickly.

Fourthly, minimize water contact seems illogical since fences frequently endure rainstorms. Yet directing sprinklers away from your fence prevents excessive moisture exposure which could accelerate decay or rust formation depending on the material.

Fifthly, consider not sealing your wooden fence immediately after installation. Wood needs time to acclimate to its environment before being sealed; this allows it to dry out completely and ensures better absorption of the sealant later on for prolonged protection.

Finally, resist the urge to repair every minor damage instantly especially if aesthetics aren't compromised. Small imperfections are inevitable over time and hasty repairs can introduce new problems such as improper curing or mismatched materials which could shorten rather than lengthen lifespan of your fence.

These seemingly unorthodox strategies capitalize on understanding material properties and environmental factors working with them instead against them helping maintain a durable boundary around your property without frequent interventions or replacements.