Garden Furniture Maintenance
How to Keep Everything Spring Fresh Through Autumn & Winter
With the grey skies threatening a little more ominously overhead, and the nights beginning their march back in, our gardens and outdoors can often get neglected. There is a temptation to let nature take over and allow everything that lives there to experience a wild winter, with our attention scheduled to pick it back in early spring.
Whilst this provides a great opportunity for the plants and flowers to do their own thing and create havens and habitats for nature over the winter, the same can’t be said for the garden furniture, patio planters and decking decorations. At East London Parasol Company, we’re keenly aware of how important it is to take the right care of the various products, fabrics and materials that make up all of the wonderful al fresco accessories in outdoor spaces.
We get asked so many questions on how to take care of our parasols and we’re always happy to help, but we realise that they are usually just one beautiful centrepiece in an entire ecosystem of garden furniture. So, we have spoken to some of our good friends to create this ultimate guide for Winter storage and care for your outdoor space essentials.
To paraphrase the famous writer and expert on all things outdoors, Alfred Wainwright…there is no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable maintenance!
Keep Your Eye On Iron
As you would expect, iron is a resilient material Weathering of quintessentially English lawn furniture, such as this Chatham metal two seater from British Ironwork Centre, is to be expected and will undoubtedly add its own character and charm. But, if you do have any unfinished metal furniture then ensure it is painted in full, and it's good practice to add a new coat every 12 months to avoid rust.
Additionally, if you are in a coastal location or anywhere exposed to higher levels of pollution, then a lacquer spray or yacht varnish will look after the exposed finishes and fittings. Of course, in the heavy rain and winter months, it always makes sense to store away or use a heavy duty waterproof cover if storage space isn’t possible for you.
Weathering the Storm with Wood
Pardon the pun, but wood and timber has been the benchmark of quality outdoor furniture for hundreds of years, and there are good reasons why. As our friends at Angus Ross will tell you, it’s the perfect material to shape the foundation and look of your outdoor environment, wood has the same sympathetic tones, shapes and colours to the natural world that surrounds it. The craftsmanship and creativity of Peter Lanyon Furniture is a great example of how this offers personality and functionality in your garden with eye-catching centrepieces to build from. These exquisite pieces are created from oak and chestnut with a natural silver patina that develops over a guaranteed lifespan of 25 years. A gentle wash with warm water is enough to keep everything ship shape without the need for harsh chemicals.
Edmund Green Octagonal Parasol
For anything using woods such as acacia, ash or eucalyptus, regular oiling twice a year will prevent any warps, splits and cracks- treat it as you would a cricket bat and use linseed oil. Preventing any real moisture damage is the ultimate goal, of course. So, again, if there is room to store during the downpour months then it’s always best to do so. If you do need to cover it then look for the greatest shelter available to you, and ensure there is a decent air circulation between the cover and the furniture to keep that moisture at bay and stop any nasty mould or rot creeping in.
Stone Cold Winter Tips
Outdoor benches, seating and tables from natural or cast stone are an impressive addition to any outdoor environment. The value that they represent, like this collection from Barrel and Garden, make them an attractive and long-lasting asset for garden design. You may be forgiven for thinking that maintenance here is essentially set to zero, but there are certain issues and challenges that make cold weather preparation the best course of action.
Occasionally cleaning debris and dirt away will stop moisture being trapped against the surface. With the golden leaves from trees making their annual assault on everything they see, it’s good to make this a priority for autumn. Stone sealants or water repellents can be a good idea too. These should be applied at least every couple of years as cracks and imperfections can appear in the freeze & thaw cycles of winter. Just make sure what you use is suitable for the type of stone as much of this furniture may contain granite, marble, sandstone and lime – just like this showcase seating range from Well Stoned.
Get Outside to Check Now and Again
Taking a little time now and again through the coming months, just to check for any little problems will prolong the life of your furniture and save you any headaches when spring comes around next year. And it also gives you a great opportunity to get outside and start designing the changes and additions you plan to make in 2025. Whatever the weather.
You can always take a look through our latest collection to get those synapses firing too!