How to protect garden furniture over winter

It’s getting chilly and you’re going to spend less time outdoors in the next few months, through the worst of the winter. Even if you’re still going to be out there whenever the weather’s good enough you’ll still need to protect garden furniture and keep things in good order. Here’s what you need to do.

Protect garden furniture and more this winter

Here’s our point-by-point advice about keeping your entertainment area and equipment in good condition through the winter months.

• Dust and wash your resin rattan garden furniture, dry it thoroughly and if you’re going to leave it unused until spring, cover it with the fitted cover provided, or the one you’ve bought separately. The cleaner and drier it is when you cover it, the better nick it’ll be in and the nicer it’ll be to use next time you take the cover off
• Garden furniture cushions are always at least weather resistant, sometimes completely waterproof, but they still deserve to be taken good care of for a longer life. Wash the covers if you need to, or scrub off any dirt with mild warm soapy water, then let them dry thoroughly before storing them somewhere dry. Then they’ll be spotlessly clean and ready to go whenever you are
• Brush, wash and if necessary re-seal or varnish your wooden garden decking to get rid of mud, dust, bird poop, grease and anything else that could hold onto water and over time, start to damage the wood. If you have composite decking, made from a form of tough plastic resin, scrub off any mould, mildew, dirt and dust to keep it looking good whatever the weather and stop it getting all slippery – which can be lethal!
• If you’re lucky enough to have a garden hot tub it’s decision time: do you empty it, cover it and leave it for the winter or do you keep it full, warm and ready for use? Both are perfectly fine, it depends on your circumstances, there are all sorts of factors to take into account, and there’s some excellent advice here
• Whether you have a barbecue, firebowl firepit or fire table, now’s the time to prepare it for the bad weather. You might have space to wheel yours indoors into a garage or shed but if not, you can buy special waterproof covers for many of the best quality models. Cast iron rusts when left wet and while the rust doesn’t do a lot of harm in the short time its best to deal with it quickly. You might want to get some special heat resistant paint to cover any rusty areas or spots that look like they need touching up
• A cast iron or steel chimenea can stay out all year with a simple waterproof cover. A clay chimenea requires a bit more care, simply because the porous pottery absorbs water. When it gets very cold, the water can freeze and expand to crack the clay body right through or crack chunks off the surface to lave weaknesses. An insulated cover with several layers will do the trick, keeping your clay chimenea in perfect condition for next year or next time you want to use it
• Bring in your garden throws and outdoor scatter cushions and give them a good clean or an actual wash before storing them for next year
• Clean the little solar panels on your outdoor solar lights and bring them in somewhere dry over winter
• Get rid of grime and slime on any garden steps or stepping stones so they’ll be safe to walk on even in the wet
• Clean or wash then roll and stash your outdoor rugs
• If any of your planters are in a vulnerable position which could affect the plants, too windy or exposed or in a particularly soggy position, shift them somewhere more sheltered until spring
• This is a good time to plant beautiful containers full of spring bulbs for an early display of colour
• Take down, wash and store your garden sail shade somewhere dry
• Clean the mechanism and the rest of your garden parasol so there’s no dust or dirt, make sure it’s perfectly dry, then protect it with its fitted cover
• Stash toys, BBQ equipment and garden accessories in your waterproof garden storage boxes
• Clean, dry, pack up and store your gazebo