Even though many garden furniture are advertised as weatherproof and winterproof, you should not necessarily rely on them. Which garden furniture can stay outside in winter and how do you winterize it?
Metal garden furniture tolerates cold winters better than plastic ones
Not all garden furniture is winterproof
Plastic garden furniture should never be left outside in winter. The material becomes brittle in frost and cracks under load. In addition, the color suffers from the harsh climate.
Wooden furniture is more weather resistant. But even they can only survive a cold, wet winter if you protect them appropriately. If you have enough space, you should bring them into the house to be on the safe side. Then you can enjoy the often expensive garden furniture for longer.
However, some garden furniture such as garden lounges or beach chairs are much too heavy and large to bring them indoors. They therefore have to overwinter outdoors.
Winterize garden furniture
- Clear to a sheltered place
- clean furniture
- stand on slightly elevated ground
- cover with covers
- Air cases occasionally
To make garden furniture winter-proof, you should clean it thoroughly in autumn. Remove dust and dirt particles by sweeping the furniture with a brush and wiping with a damp cloth if necessary.
If possible, place the garden furniture in a place where it is not too exposed to the cold and humidity. So that the furniture does not get too damp from below, place wooden planks, wooden pallets or stones underneath so that they are slightly elevated.
Cover with protective covers
There are appropriate protective covers for almost all garden furniture, which you can purchase in the garden center. However, a waterproof foil cover that you spread over the dry furniture usually does the trick. Fix it with stones at the bottom to keep it from being stripped by the wind.
On dry days you should remove the covers for a while to air the garden furniture. This allows moisture to escape and prevents the wood from going moldy.
It goes without saying that cushions and upholstery made of fabrics must be stored indoors in winter.
tips
After the winter you need to freshen up most of the garden furniture. Clean them carefully. You should impregnate wooden furniture in the spring to make it more resistant.