Avant Gardener: Proper care and storage of garden accessories will allow them to survive winter
By Kyle Valentini
November 8, 2011
263
Summary: Just like we decorate our homes, we can decorate our gardens with comfy seating, bird baths and fountains and other accessories that make time spent in the garden even nicer. Proper care and storage of these accessories will allow them to last for years without sustaining damage from the harshness that is the Ohio winter.
More than just a place to grow food and flowers, the garden can be a respite from the real world that is filled with hectic schedules, whining children and a stack of endless bills that make us wonder why we dont drop out altogether.
In and amongst the radishes and the rutabaga, we can add elements to the garden that allow for more relaxation and less work.
No garden is complete with a place to sit; it can be a tree stump or a whicker rocker, a bench or even a simple folding chair that can be tucked away when not in use. Sitting in the garden allows us to see what weve done and imagine what we will do.
Statuary for the garden can make the space uniquely your own and reflect your personality. Nowadays it is easy to find weather resistant statues made of stone or resin that beautify the garden. Stone, although more organic, is heavier and more expensive. Resin has the look of stone without the hefty weight or price tag and will last for years if properly cared for.
Fountains are nice in the garden but will require electricity unless you can find one powered by the sun. The sound of the water alone can be a soothing experience and birds and other wildlife will find it a source for hydration.
Another way to attract birds to the garden is by placing a birdbath in or near the garden. Its important to keep the bird bath clean. If you grow lavender, place a cutting from a blooming plant in the birdbath water. The antibacterial properties in the flowers keep water crystal clear.
To get the most from your garden accessories consider putting them away for the winter. Frigid temperatures and massive amounts of snow can be damaging and in our region we are usually faced with both in winter.
Give your garden accessories a good cleaning before putting them away in the barn or garage. There are still a few nice days left before the air turns bitterly cold. Take advantage of it so you dont have to be moving statues and fountains in Arctic-like air.
Use caution when storing seat cushions or fabric hammocks or umbrellas. Mice and other cute-from-a-distance vermin will gladly make a winter home in your summer garden accessories without batting an eyelash or a whisker. Mice can find their way into a sealed tin can so dont think your storage shed is going to keep them out.
Unless your bird bath is heated it is best to put it away as well. The changing temperatures and the freezing and thawing could crack a ceramic or glass bird bath. I always wondered why garden stores sold the pedestals and the bowls separately until I inadvertently left out the birdbath one winter only to find it in three pieces when the snow melted in spring.
Protecting garden fountains can be tricky. If the fountain is easily moved simply allow it to dry thoroughly before storage. Larger, more permanently installed fountains need to be drained, dried and covered before ice and snow arrive. Placing old towels or fabric on the interior of the fountain will absorb any moisture that might remain. Cover the fountain with a waterproof tarp and secure it so it wont blow away in the wind.
When the weather warms in spring it will be safe to get out your stored garden accessories and do a bit of redecorating before you begin to plant.
