Olivia M

Whether we like it or not, it's time to put away the sun loungers and prep our gardens for winter. There are plenty of ways to preserve the beauty and style of your garden through the colder months. Winter gardening for beginners doesn’t need to be intimidating.

Add a Splash of Colour

Everlasting grey days are par for the course when it comes to the Great British winter. This is why we love to add some colour to our winter garden to keep our mood lifted and avoid a bare, unkempt landscape.

Pansies, Japanese quince and winter-flowering heather are all bright and beautiful flowering plants that will last throughout the chilly seasons. If you’re winter gardening in pots, make sure they are designed to withstand frosty and snowy conditions. We also love seeing dogwood and witch hazel in winter gardens for a timeless, low-maintenance addition.

Bring in the Bulbs

It’s always helpful to think ahead with your garden. This is why autumn and winter are the perfect time to plant your flowering bulbs in preparation for a gorgeous spring landscape. You can also plan ahead for year-round flower cover. The key is to understand what grows in winter gardening.

Plant daffodils, dahlias, hyacinths, lilies and crocus in autumn then snowdrops, winter aconite and tulips in winter for spring. Invest in some good quality compost to support growth and sprinkle them throughout your garden wherever takes you fancy. Beneath the trees, edging the lawn or beside the patio - the choice is yours!

Protect your Furniture

While some of us prefer to store away our outdoor furniture in a shed or garage during the colder months, others like to simply cover things up. In fact, investing in high-quality outdoor furniture cover will prove very fruitful. The unpredictable British weather means you can get the most from your coverage throughout the year!

Add buying good quality covers to your winter gardening to do list - at the Garden Furniture Centre, we have a wide range of furniture covers and protection including hard-wearing heavy-weight outdoor sofa weather covers.

As winter is also a great time to treat your wooden furniture and extend its lifetime, we sell maintenance kits with cleaners, protectors and applicators so that you can make sure your furniture is in tip-top shape before covering up for winter.

Polish Up

Of course, many of the top winter gardening tips are focused on protection. It's important to use this time to clean and sharpen your tools before you put them away for winter. Use warm soapy water to get rid of any stubborn mud and grime, then treat wooden and metal details with oil to minimise rust. Store carefully and keep some burlap close at hand for cleaning up again when spring rolls around.

Turn up the Heat

Of course, there are plenty of ways to continue to enjoy your garden throughout the winter by adding a stylish gas or electric patio heater, and even an outdoor fireplace or firepit. Make it cosy and huddle up under a blanket with plenty of scatter cushions for good measure. And don’t forget to invest in some stylish storage options to protect your accessories.

We hope you've enjoyed reading our winter gardening tips for beginners! Our gardening experts love to share their knowledge on our blog, so don't forget to come back next week for more gardening tips, advice and insights.

If you’re wondering where to buy retro furniture online, then you’ve come to the right place! Here at the Garden Furniture Centre, we have a beautiful retro furniture range that is especially popular with commercial clients including restaurants, hotels and event planners. We also welcome many domestic buyers who love to invest in pieces that will never go out of style.

Retro Furniture

Many people like the look of retro furniture from the 60s and other key eras because there’s something about vintage of which we just can’t get enough. There are so many ways to style retro items too to create a gorgeous outdoor aesthetic – these are our top three tips...

Pare It Back

The beauty of retro is that it already speaks its own style language and makes an impact thanks to its unique character. One way you can style is with a minimalist, stripped-back look. This is especially effective if your garden is more about the low-key style in terms of plants and flowers, perhaps with a very simple colour scheme, or if you’ve done the opposite and gone for a very busy garden with lots of foliage and plants against which your simple retro garden furniture will stand out. If you like to strip it back, we love the Retro Windsor Leisure Set with its simple yet graceful design including two chairs with high curved back and a matching table featuring distressed metalwork.

Embrace Shabby Chic

You never need to ask the question “Is retro furniture in style?” because it’s never off-trend! As another timeless trend, shabby chic works beautifully in an outdoor setting along with vintage pieces to add impact to your space. This retro dining table does the job very nicely with smooth white hues and an antique finish. As with all our retro outdoor furniture, it’s also super lightweight and virtually maintenance-free with capped feet for added protection.

Colour It Up

Retro furniture trends have become brighter and more beautiful in recent years, and it’s not uncommon to see a range of colour and style options with vintage-style pieces. This is a gorgeous way to brighten up your garden whatever the weather or season. We have a range of retro chair sets coated with tough lacquer paint in vibrant colours with a choice of cross back or classic styles and a 4- or 6-chair set. Choose from soft pink, buttercup yellow, sky blue and bright green – match them up or mix them up for a gorgeous rainbow effect.

If space is an issue in your patio or garden, you can always add a touch of retro glamour with a statement piece, Our inviting love bench features scroll arms, a vibrant green colour palette and ample space for two. We also love this chic bar table that makes a subtle impact for all the right reasons thanks to a high ornate leg structure and smooth slatted top.

Our range of retro furniture has all been created using tough but lightweight aluminium frames that will remain rust-free when used outdoors. For guaranteed beauty and longevity with your garden furniture, look no further! Click here to browse our full range of retro garden furniture.