Rawgarden’s Guide to Caring for your Garden Furniture in Winter

Winter weather can cause havoc on your property – from peeling paintwork and the risk of flooding to plunging temperatures freezing pipes. Your garden furniture can be just as much at risk from the ravages of the winter season if you’re not careful. Follow the care guide from Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) and your garden furniture, whether firepit or garden bench, will make it through to Spring in tip-top shape.

When it comes to wooden garden furniture such as picnic benches or picnic tables, garden benches or teak tables, the quality of the furniture itself – and the timber used – is one of the most important factors in keeping it looking good throughout the winter months. Rawgarden’s FSC certified pine garden furniture is made from timber which has been dried in a kiln and pre-treated to category three. This treatment provides a high level of inherent protection against the elements. For instance, a picnic bench made from pre-treated FSC certified pine will last for 10 years even having been exposed to the harsh winter weather, and you can extend its life yet further by applying a wood protector or sealant each year.

Teak is another top quality timber which is durable and which will last through many winters, even without being treated with a protectorant. However, a picnic table or other piece of furniture made from teak which has been left out in the garden in winter will change colour over time, from its original rich gold to a silvery grey. If you would prefer to maintain the gorgeous gold colour but still leave the teak picnic table outside all year-round, then apply a teak protector which will not only preserve the original colour but also protect against mildew.

You may think that because fire pits are perfect for use in winter months, they don’t need protecting quite as much, but that’s not the case. Protect the attractive black sheen of your fire pit with the Heat Resistant Black Spray from Rawgarden. If the winter weather has caused the paint to chip, brush the debris off and spray the fire pit once a year to keep it looking new for many years to come.
Follow these simple tips and your wooden garden furniture and fire pit can safely stay outside throughout the winter and still look great when Spring has finally sprung!

You’ll find more furniture care guides at http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/.

Welcome to Fire Pit Season at Rawgarden

The nights are drawing in, the temperature’s dropping, soon the clocks will go back. While this may not be everyone’s favourite time of year, most people agree that the best thing about it is the advent of fire pit season! First there’s Halloween, then there’s Bonfire Night, and then all those wintry nights which are crying out to be celebrated with friends around a roaring fire pit. Fire pits are one of the most enjoyable ways to cosy up and enjoy the cold and Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) has the very best selection available.

It’s all too easy to hunker down in the winter months, become social hermits and barely leave the house. But the beauty of fire pits is that they allow you to carry on having parties into the colder months because they are a fantastic source of heat and light. They are also great centre pieces to a party, encouraging people to bond over a hot toddy shared around the crackling flames and creating a cosy ambience it’s impossible to replicate by holing up inside a centrally heated room. And of course they’re supremely practical: no more stuffy dinner parties, firepits allow you and your mates to share the camaraderie of a barbecue all year-round.

Rawgarden is passionate about all types of outdoor furniture and accessories, but fire pits will always have a particular place in the company’s heart, perhaps because they bring families and friends together even more than picnic tables and pub garden furniture! That’s why Rawgarden has worked hard to create a range of fire pits that includes one for every type of outdoor space, small and large, open or partially covered, and for every level of budget. In fact, Rawgarden customers can get that fire pit experience for as little as £59.99. There are compact fire pits, child- and pet-friendly fire pits, impressive chrome-finished fire pits, modernist square fire pits, and many are currently reduced.

So grab your pumpkin and your pointy hat, your bangers and your sparklers, and celebrate firepit season with some winter warmer barbecues and outside get-togethers around a Rawgarden fire pit. View the entire range at http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/.

The Great Garden Furniture Cover Up at Rawgarden.co.uk

There’s a cover up at garden furniture firm Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/)! That’s because autumn spells the great garden furniture cover up – when outdoor furniture and accessories should be slipped into custom-made garden furniture covers to protect them against the elements and keep them in tip-top condition.

When the first nip of frost bites in the back garden you know it’s time to step in to protect your outdoor garden furniture and accessories. Your wooden bench could fail to resist rot, your barbecue or bistro set begin to rust and your parasol start to stain unless you take preventative action and get involved in Rawgarden’s garden cover up. Rawgarden features an extensive range of patio furniture covers, fire pit and barbecue covers which are available all year round but which come in particularly handy at this time of year. Instead of having to put away your garden furniture (if you have the luxury of garage or shed space) or simply let it languish in the rain and frost of the autumn and winter months, you can keep it all exactly where it is and simply pop on its cover. This will keep everything completely protected from the harsh elements while allowing you to keep your garden layout as it was in the summer.

A garden furniture cover need not be an eyesore, either. There’s no need to make your garden look like a warehouse in the winter months because Rawgarden’s covers are all attractive designs which fit perfectly around a whole range of Rawgarden products and are in colours which won’t stand out in a winter garden (green and black). Choose from garden table covers, chair covers, fire pit covers and much more and make sure that not only is your outdoor furniture protected but it’s also ready to be revealed in seconds should the sun break through at all during winter!

Check out the full range of garden furniture products and the covers to fit them at http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/.

Don’t Miss Up to 50% Savings in Rawgarden’s Warehouse Clearance Sale!

It’s that time of year when one season turns into the next. A new season can signal a new start in lots of ways, and at leading garden furniture retailer Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) a new start to a season means warehouse clearance – and that means bargains! You can get up to 50% off some of Rawgarden’s top garden furniture and accessories, but hurry, bargains like this won’t last for long.

In order to make room for yet more of the very best in garden furniture and outdoor products, Rawgarden is clearing its warehouse. Because Rawgarden only supplies top quality products (which are hand-picked by some very fussy buyers!) its warehouse is a veritable treasure trove all year round. To make way for the new, the kind folks at Rawgarden are holding a clearance sale which is not to be missed. During the whole of September, Rawgarden is throwing open its warehouse doors 7 days a week, to give as many of its customers as possible the chance to grab themselves an end-of-season gem of a product at a knock-down price. To make it even easier to bag a bargain, the entire clearance stock is featured on the Rawgarden website at Rawgarden.co.uk.

Take a browse through the clearance sale selection and you’ll find fantastic offers on large pieces of cafe furniture – such as the Teak and Aluminium Café Chair, Stack of 4, reduced to £143.64 - and picnic tables – such as the Kids Mini Picnic Table for just £39.99. If you’ve already bought a piece of much-loved Rawgarden furniture, then you could well find some extra cushions or garden furniture covers in the sale to complement your purchase. While browsing, you’ll also find some smaller products in the sale which are hard to resist. How about lighting up your next outdoor party with some kitsch and fun Love Heart Sky Lanterns, down to just £12.99; or make your barbecues ‘pop’ to life with the Bon Fire Pop Top for Popcorn, only £15.95? There are many more clearance offers that are not to be missed, but be quick because supply is limited!*

To see the full range visit the warehouse at Bull’s Bridge Farm, Hempstead, Essex, CB10 2PP, or go to http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/.

*Featured products in stock at time of writing.

What is FSC Certified Garden Furniture?

Leading garden furniture company Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) prides itself on supplying only top quality garden furniture; furniture which is made from sustainable resources and FSC certified wherever possible. In fact just about all of its top selling products such as picnic tables and garden benches carry the FSC certification, but what does this actually mean?

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, a global non-profit organization which promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests. One of the primary ways it does this is by creating an independent certification system which allows consumers to choose furniture made from environmentally and socially responsible forestry. When consumers see the easily recognizable FSC tree logo on a garden bench, parasol or any piece of wooden furniture, they can be sure that its timber comes solely from well-managed forests that have met the stringent environmental and social standards set by the FSC.

The forest that the timber comes from is certified by the FSC, but in the case of Chain of Custody (Coc) certification this also extends to the retailer of the furniture. The Coc allows garden furniture retailers such as Rawgarden (who is Coc certified) to demonstrate that the timber used in its certified products comes from a forest directly monitored and certified by the FSC as responsibly managed. This essentially certifies the entire supply chain of the product from original source to final retail stage.

What does this all mean for the planet? According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, half of the world’s forests have already been either damaged or entirely wiped out due to poor management or exploitation. Deforestation causes severe environmental effects such as climate change, as well as social effects (both locally and globally), often themselves brought about by the environmental effects. Most of us have begun to think and act more environmentally aware in our everyday lives. Recycling is important of course, but so is thinking about the origin of all of the things that we buy. Buying garden furniture from an FSC certified retailer such as Rawgarden is one simple yet highly effective way of ensuring you are doing your bit for the rainforests, and therefore the planet. You can view the entire range of Rawgarden FSC certified products and find out more about the company’s environmental policy at http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/.

How to Make the Most Out of a Humble Garden Bench

A classic garden bench is just about the simplest piece of garden furniture you can get. But it can also be one of the most versatile when you use a little imagination. Leading online retailer of quality garden furniture Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) tells you how to make the most out of a humble garden bench.

Placement – consider where you place a garden bench as this could affect how much use you get out of it. Instead of thinking what the bench looks like in a certain part of the garden, think about what you can see from the bench. For instance, if you painstakingly tend to a flowerbed or vegetable patch, why not enjoy the fruits of your labour by placing a bench with a full view of the bed or patch – or indeed any favourite spot of the garden. Not only will this get you using your bench more, but you’ll also be getting the most out of the garden itself.

Watch wildlife – well-placed benches can give you a front row seat for your very own back-garden wildlife show. Many gardens, even urban ones, are visited by a huge array of wildlife, from everyday birds, butterflies and insects to the more exciting appearance of foxes, hedgehogs and other furry creatures. A partially concealed bench (and a little patience!) can give you the opportunity to watch wildlife in your own garden. And if you aren’t lucky enough to be visited by that many of god’s creatures, why not invite some to visit with a bird table, bird bath or even a saucer of milk, all in view of your slightly hidden garden bench.

A lick of paint – a wooden bench can be very plain, but it can also be a great blank canvas for a little creative expression. Paint your bench white and distress it or lime wash it for a ‘shabby chic’ cottage look or paint each wooden slat a different colour of the rainbow to bring a smile to the kids’ faces. Choose a block colour carefully and you can even evoke a faraway country in one little bench, especially when you explore the theme around it. For instance, to bring a Greek feel, paint it faded aqua blue and place some bleached white stones around it. For a Spanish feel, go for a deep terracotta colour and arrange some potted geraniums nearby. And one of the bright primary colours when offset with some succulent cacti can bring a little bit of Mexico to your garden. Benches are often cheaper than other pieces of garden furniture so you can feel free to experiment with paint a little more.

Memorial – finally, garden benches make beautiful memorials to someone who has passed away. You could choose a memorial bench for use in a loved one’s favourite park with a plaque bearing their name or one of their favourite quotes. However, even a simple, unmarked bench in your own back garden can provide a focal point for remembering the life of a loved one while surrounded by nature.

Who knew the humble garden bench could offer so much? At Rawgarden, you’ll find a garden bench suitable for every type of use: memorial benches, budget benches ready for painting, benches for extra seating and ones which are comfortable enough to spend hours sitting in. View the entire range at http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/garden-benches-cid/15.html

Rawgarden’s Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Heatwave

It’s a quintessentially British trait to bemoan the lack of hot, sunny days in the British Isles, only to complain when summer hits. In fairness to us Brits, the country is ill-equipped when it comes to hot weather, the rarity that it is, and this year is set to be a humdinger of a heatwave. Leading garden furniture retailer Rawgarden (http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/) shares its top five tips for surviving a heatwave.

1. Safety first
   Heatwaves can be dangerous, so take some precautions when temperatures soar. Invest in more than one electric fan so you can get air circulating around all areas of the house, and outside if you have access to electricity. Keep hydrated throughout the day and night because we all need more water than normal in hot weather. Don’t forget to eat – sometimes appetites can wane in the heat, but you still need to keep your energy levels up. Slap on high factor sunscreen and keep applying it to you and the kids on regular intervals. Keep physical exertion to a minimum and keep in the shade wherever possible. If you feel yourself overheating, plunge your hands or feet into iced water: cooling down your pulse points is one of the fastest ways to cool down your whole body. Finally, keep a close eye on pets, children, pregnant women, anyone who is ill and older people as these are the people that are likely to be feeling it the most.
2. Stay at home!
   We spend so much of our time indoors in Britain, that when the sun is out we want to be out too, enjoying parks and pub gardens. But enduring a heatwave when you’re out and about is not all that fun. Britain struggles to cope when it comes to really high temperatures and hot, sweaty trains, buses and underground trains are not nice places to be. The roads are jam-packed with sweltering travellers trying to get to the seaside but getting no further than the bumper of the car in front of them. Once you do get to your destination, whether beach, pub or park, it’s so busy you can barely find a space to sit down. Far better to stay at home where there’s no travelling involved, drinks and food are chilled and near at hand and you can keep cool and in the shade. All you need is a little preparation to make the most of your outdoor space. Make sure you can shelter from the sun under a parasol; plug a few fans in to create a breeze; get out the picnic table so you can eat outdoors; and consider extra seating (garden benches and extra picnic benches are perfect) so you can share the fun with your friends. Still miss the pub? Rawgarden even sells pub garden furniture so you can recreate the pub garden in the cool comfort of your own backyard and make sure you always get the best seat in the house!
3. Above all a good roof
   Garden parasols are great for providing shade, but larger gardens may require more comprehensive shading in a heatwave. Shade sails provide a larger area of shade and are perfect even for awkward spaces. Gazebos are arguably even better in a heatwave, because they provide a roof outdoors and often have roll-up sides, protecting you from the glare of the sun while allowing in the breeze.
4. Your friend the fridge
   Now you have safety covered and a shady place to enjoy the weather, you can really kick back and make the most of it. Make up jugs of iced water, iced tea and fruit juices, as well as Pimm’s and Sangria for the adults. Stock up on beer as even non-beer drinkers get tempted in the heat. Make your own fruit juice ice lollies and keep a batch in the freezer at all times. And your fridge can be your friend in the most unexpected ways in a heatwave. Try keeping flannels, make-up, face masks and eye masks in the cool box because they can feel blissful when cooled. Feeling brave? Do as Marilyn Monroe did in The Seven Year Itch and keep your undies in the icebox!
5. Summer’s all too short
   Finally, keep in mind that while heatwaves can be very uncomfortable, they never last for long in Britain. In fact, summer is all too short on our little island, so with a little preparation, a sensible attitude and the knowledge that it will soon be over, you can thrive and not just survive in the heat.
   
   To help you get prepared for the summer, visit http://www.rawgarden.co.uk/ to view the whole range of garden furniture and accessories.

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