Over winter it can be difficult to look outside at your garden and see it empty and cold. You long for the summer months, those warmer times when you spend so much more time outside than in, and your garden is green, buzzing, and full of action. If you have furniture that you use outside it is important that you look after it over winter, even if it is all weather garden furniture.

The specific dangers you need to keep an eye on for each piece of garden furniture will depend on the materials that it is made of. We’ve broken down the maintenance into a few types of furniture, so it is easier to follow:

Metal furniture

Aluminium, galvanised steel, wrought iron, and other metal furniture looks modern and sleek. Some metal might suffer from rust and corrosion over time, with winter weather and moisture potentially causing problems, whilst some metal garden furniture is built to resist the elements. 

Wicker and rattan furniture

Often a popular choice of material for garden furniture. Over winter months this type of furniture could be in danger of suffering from mould and sagging, as well as naturally weakening when faced with the cold and wet weather. 

Wooden furniture

An all-time classic choice of garden furniture, wood looks great and is durable, but it can begin to warp and crack the longer it is exposed to the elements. Over time, this can lead to structural problems.

Plastic furniture

Plastic was a popular choice in the 1980s and 1990s especially due to being lightweight, easy to clean, and affordable. It can fade and become brittle due to exposure to the sun though, and during winter it can suffer in appearance and durability.

When and how to inspect your garden furniture?

The best time to prepare your garden furniture for winter is in September and early October. This is the best time to inspect everything you have in place and to check for damage and loose parts, to repair anything that needs fixing and to put in place the measures that will keep your furniture clean and dry over the cold winter months. 

Should I cover or store my furniture?

There are a couple of choices that you can make with your garden furniture, either cover it or store it away inside. The choice is down to you and will depend on your storage space and the type of covers you have.Covering garden furniture with high quality covers helps shield it from UV rays, rain, snow, wind, it resists dust, leaves, and garden debris, and minimises the risk of moisture damage, cracking, rusting, corrosion, and extends the lifespan of any piece of garden furniture. 

If you live somewhere with extreme winter weather conditions, it might be more sensible to store your garden furniture away inside. If you have a metal garden shed with space, a garage, or other storage solutions, storing your garden furniture away will keep them dry and safe from the elements.

What about outdoor cushions?

Also, one of the biggest concerns for people with garden furniture is what to do about any soft furnishings such as cushions during the winter. Outdoor cushions play an integral part in creating a comfortable ambience, so you do not want to damage them during winter. Have a regular routine all year round of removing cushions, shaking them gently and cleaning them down with a soft brush or a cloth, using soap and water to gently clean them and leave to air dry. During winter, store your cushions inside, in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight. 

It is vital that you look after your all weather garden furniture over winter. Even the best quality products need care and attention, ensuring that when you do venture back outside come spring, your garden furniture is in the best condition to provide you with the comfort and style you are looking for in your back garden.

If you’re thinking about doing some yard work but don’t want to use a lawnmower and risk damaging your grass, this blog post is for you. Here are some lawn-cutting do’s and don’ts that will help prolong the life of your grass.

1. Do Wait for a Dry Day

It’s best to mow grass when it’s dry. Wet grass will cling to the underside of the mower and may cause blades to jam or misalign, leading to damage and poor cutting performance. You’ll get better results and extend the time between maintenance checks if you wait until your lawn is completely dry to mow it.

2. Don’t Overlap Each Cut

You should overlap each pass by only 1/3 of the width of the blade to avoid damaging your lawn while you cut. For example, if your mower has a 20-inch-wide cutting deck, you should stop and turn after making a 10-inch pass.

3. Do Keep a Sharp Blade

A sharp blade produces a clean cut and is less likely to damage your lawn than one that’s dull. Dull blades tend to tear more of the grass blades, resulting in more of them browning out, weakening the grass plant and setting it up for disease. In fact, keeping your blade sharp will allow you to cut your grass more often, which means that it will fill in low spots quickly and make your lawn look better.

Learn more: How Long Does It Take for Grass to Grow

4. Don’t Raise the Cutting Blade More Than 3 Inches

Raising the cutting blade too high can damage or kill certain types of grasses. For example, St. Augustine grass will brownout or die when subjected to a blade that is more than 3 inches above the soil surface. This may result in bald spots that require reseeding, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

5. Do Mow Slopes Gradually

It’s best to mow slopes down rather than up because it’s easier on your lawnmower’s engine and prevents scalping. If you have to mow up a slope, however, reduce your cutting height by half so that the blade doesn’t jump out of the grass.

6. Don’t Cut More Than 1/3 of the Grass Blade Tall

While it’s good to cut off long, weedy grass and to give your lawn a tidy appearance, cutting more than 1/3 the height of palmetto grass will weaken it. The grass will become spindly or grow unevenly, leading to spots that are more prone to disease.

7. Do Raise the Cutting Deck When Operating on Weeds and Stumps

Raising the cutting deck (1/2 inch for every 1-inch weed height) will help keep it from plunging into weeds and stumps, which can damage your lawnmower’s engine and drivetrain as well as cause you to lose control of your mower, especially if the stumps are on a hill or in soft soil.

8. Don’t Mow When It’s Wet

If you’re tempted to sneak in an early-morning or late-evening mowing when the grass is wet, don’t do it. Worry about the task when it’s dry so you can go over the lawn slowly, which will prevent scalping.

9. Do Clean Your Mower After Every Use

A dirty mower deck also increases the potential for scalping since grass clippings are likely to build upon it after every cutting session. When mowing wet grass, the deck especially should be cleaned to make sure that you don’t damage your mower.

Make sure that children are never left unattended near an operating power tool. Don’t forget about these tips if you want your yard to look its best all summer long! If you think you don’t have much time to take care of your lawn yourself, turn to a professional Lawn Mowing in Cumming. Hope this article was informative.