As the weather starts to turn, it’s time to start thinking about packing away your garden furniture – and there’s a specific date you should be doing it
As summer draws to a close, we’re all feeling a bit glum. The evenings are becoming darker, the temperature is dropping and it’s nearly time to pack away our gardens for another year.
However, there’s one crucial task you need to complete in September to keep your gear in tip-top shape. Online videos are popping up with top tips on how to properly store your garden furniture, and it’s essential to get the timing right.
Data from cutting-edge interiors brand, Ruggable, has pinpointed the exact date you should be tucking away your garden furniture depending on where you live.
After analysing weather and rainfall trends across the UK’s capital cities over the past five years, Ruggable has identified the ideal time to stash away your outdoor furniture to prevent any damage.
For those in Edinburgh, it’s recommended to start packing away your garden furniture by mid-September (September 15), while Cardiff local should aim for September 23.
Meanwhile, Belfast residents have until September 27 and Londoners can savour their outdoor spaces a tad longer, with the suggested date being the end of the month (September 30).
Cassandra Leisz, Creative Director at Ruggable, said: “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 on TikTok, countless guides show exactly how to properly store your garden gear away safely.
Plenty of users suggest buying big storage containers to keep your favourite outdoor pieces safe during winter.
Protective covers for tables and seating are another option for those wanting to shield items during the chillier period.
Waterproof storage bags offer extra security for anything 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 said: “This would be perfect for our garden.”
A third also responded: “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 that 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.