Posted by: 0 in garden accessories on
Jun 4, 2010
The end of the winter is a good time to plan some changes in our garden. We are planting, watering, cutting the grass - all thos works might be pleasant for us but sometimes painful. And the garden is not just a place where our spine pain is beginning. It should be also used for a relaxing times. That's what we have garden furniture for.
When we are inviting friends to our home and we are willing to show them our garden, it's not only beautiful flowers or trees they will be happy to see. Your friends will probably look for a comfortable place to sit and relax with a cold beer or soda in their hands. And also have a nice chat with the host.
Probably we will have enough space to put a few benches, a hammock and a garden table there. But how to arrange the garden to not to ruine the whole design. Even more, to improve its look?
It's probably all about choosing the right furniture that won't take too much space and will match our plants, house and our expectations. For example very natural and wooden furniture would match almost every garden (wood would look perfect among the green) but plastic, glass or metal one defenitely not. Sometimes some of them can give an impression of bad taste and some of a cold look.
Garden furniture is also known as patio furniture and it is specifically designed for outdoor use. It is generally made out of weather resistant materials. Usually garden furniture is sold as a set consisting of a table and four or six chairs and sometimes with a parasol or large umbrella. The parasol will be fitted through a hole in the center of the table and secured at the foundation or base of the table. There are cold weather options that can be bought to go with your outdoor furniture such as patio heaters.
There are also long chairs called chaise lounges, that are also popular and a picnic table will be added also to eat meals outside. The material used most commonly to make such furniture generally are stones, metals, vinyl, plastics, resins, glass, and also treated woods and wicker. The most common materials used nowadays are plastic, certain types of wood for example, teak, aluminum and wicker. The advantage of plastic furniture is that it can be left out in the weather year round; the disadvantage is that it does not look as good as wood or stone furniture.
Another disadvantage plastic has is that in the rain it can become dirty in the nooks and crannies. Wooden furniture needs to be treated periodically other wise it may not age very well in the rain.
Teak wood is the most commonly used wood for outdoor furniture. The reason for teak being used widely is because the wood contains silica which makes it a naturally weather proof wood and therefore fungus resistant compared to other types of wood. It is also resistant to fire, acid and alkali to a certain degree and needs to be treated with special oils to enhance its resistance.
Aluminum furniture is a good choice; however there is a protective coating on the aluminum which can wear away from exposure to perspiration, suntan lotion and even car exhaust. Once that coating starts to dissolve then aluminum can corrode and when that happens then it is difficult to salvage aluminum.
They are privacy and shelter are two important things in the garden. The latter is often a problem in gardens which are exposed to cold prevailing winds. Both these points are important not only for the gardener himself, but also for the plants in his garden.
Young growth can be severely damaged by cold winds and frequent buffeting will cause a great deal of root disturbance. Although privacy and shelter can be provided by trees and shrubs, fences also have an important part to play.
The choice of fencing must never be undertaken lightly, for serious consideration must be given to its appearance and construction.
Strength is very important. A fence is only as strong as its supports. Most fences are supplied with strong posts, usually 4-6in (10-15cm) square. Sometimes concrete posts are supplied; these are extremely strong. Strength of timber also depends on the prevention of rot, and unless cedar wood is used (except for posts), all timber should be treated with a suitable preservative. Creosote can be used, although it should be allowed to soak into the timber for several weeks before plants are trained against it. Unless this is done, there is the danger of stem and leaf scorch and its use is not generally recommended where plants are to be grown against or near a fence. A safer treatment consists of the use of copper naphthenate preservatives such as the green, horticultural grades of Cuprinol or Solignum.
Even if you spend a fortune in time and money landscaping your gardens and outside areas to perfection you will still find that it will be missing something. The reason for this is that no amount of greenery, shrubs, and trees can make up for a quiet relaxing place to sit and rest while you enjoy your view. Make sure you enjoy your gardens and outside areas to their fullest extent with the right garden furniture. Even if you are a gardener that refuses to give up your design for comfort, you too will find that there are many different pieces and sets out there that will complement any design.
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