As summer draws to a close, the nights are becoming darker and the weather is turning cooler. We’ll soon have to start preparing our gardens for the colder months, but there’s one crucial task you need to complete in September to keep your garden equipment in top shape.
A host of videos have surfaced online detailing the best methods for storing away your garden furniture, and it’s essential to do this at the right time.
New findings from innovative interiors brand, Ruggable, have disclosed the precise date you should be packing away your garden furniture based on where you live.
After analysing weather and rainfall patterns across the UK’s capital cities over the past five years, Ruggable has identified the ideal time to store your outdoor furniture to prevent any damage.
For those in Edinburgh, it’s recommended to begin packing up your garden furniture by mid-September (15th September), while Cardiff residents should aim for 23rd September.
Meanwhile, Belfast residents have until 27th September, and Londoners can savour their outdoor spaces a bit longer, with the suggested date being the end of the month (30th September).
Cassandra Leisz, Creative Director at Ruggable, explained: “As autumn arrives and temperatures begin to drop, it’s important to protect your garden furniture and furnishings from harsh weather, especially high winds and heavy rain downpours. To ensure your outdoor furniture lasts year after year, it’s best to bring it inside and store it safely away from these conditions, using the above dates as a guideline.
“It’s essential to bring your furniture indoors before they are exposed to prolonged rain, especially metal items such as tables and chairs that are prone to rust and corrosion.
“Outdoor rugs, cushions and upholstery should be brought indoors, too, before any rain or cold spells, as waterlogged fabrics can lead to stains, discolouration and mould growth. Rain can also accelerate colour fading and damage the finish or protective coatings on your furniture.
“By following these guidelines, you can keep your outdoor furniture protected all year round.”
Meanwhile, TikTok users have shared numerous guides demonstrating how to properly store your garden pieces.
Countless individuals suggest purchasing substantial storage containers to keep your finest outdoor accessories secure during winter.
Protective covers are also available for tables and seating that require shielding throughout the cooler period.
Waterproof storage bags offer additional defence for items you’re especially concerned about protecting. When ferguson_at_no5 showcased the storage boxes on TikTok, people were left thoroughly impressed, with one commenting: “Love this, we use one of these for our bins – then the other for tools and other bits so we don’t have to have a shed.”
Another chimed in: “This would be perfect for our garden.” A third said: “I have the exact same unit. We wrapped ours in a tarpaulin for extra protection.”
This follows as garden building experts are warning homeowners to remove paint and other common items from their sheds this autumn and winter.
GardenBuildingsDirect shared people should remove paint from their outbuildings to avoid having to replace them.
Many items commonly stored in sheds are not able to withstand the elements during the autumn and winter months as they can be vulnerable to cold and damp weather.
Storing items incorrectly could be costly, as homeowners may end up having to replace them. For things like paint and electricals, this could end up being pretty expensive.
Keeping leftover paint in the shed is a common mistake. Storing paint properly is key to maintaining its quality and making sure it can be reused in the future.
Any paint that is leftover in the shed during the winter months could cause it to congeal, separate or dry out.