How to Choose Country Garden Furniture

Val Watson
Authored by Val Watson
Posted Tuesday, November 22, 2022 - 11:17pm

When we get into the autumn and winter months, there is most definitely a sense that the glorious warm weather we enjoyed in the summer has gone, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about the garden. In fact, the cooler months are probably the best time to take stock and refresh the garden ready for next year.

This means taking a good look at what to keep and what needs renewing and replacing, and this includes your garden furniture, which, let’s face it, is often shown to be past its best in the harsh and gloomy light of winter. And because the trend in recent years has veered largely towards country garden style, there has never been a better time to invest in high-quality garden furniture such as a 4 seater garden furniture set from Lazy Susan, which could form the basis of your country garden.

Traditional craftsman made is best

When it comes to choosing the perfect furniture for a country garden, the most popular choice is often for traditional style but with a modern twist. The classic layout for garden furniture will usually revolve around the classic garden furniture set for four people set in the centre of a seating area, perhaps with a rustic style bench to one side providing a quiet place to sit with a good book and a cuppa. Modern low-maintenance materials such as hard-wearing aluminium combined with timeless design and traditional craftsmanship are the basis for heritage-style country garden furniture.

Style not fashion

The problem with following fashion is that after a single season, whatever is in is soon out. This is why it is best to choose garden furniture which is both traditional and timeless and can fit into any garden, large or small. Everything else, the planting, the lighting and the accessories, can be changed according to the seasons or according to your whims and wishes. It has been said many times by garden designers that the English country garden does not follow trends. Rather, owners of traditional country gardens have always utilised whatever was available to them to create the look. To this end, planters would be made from old shoes, watering cans and wheelbarrows, and this philosophy would extend to planting ideas.

Longevity and sustainability

It’s true that many gardeners like instant impact when it comes to planting schemes, and this can be easily achieved with the use of annual bedding plants and bulbs to set off any previously included pieces, such as hedges. This, however, lovely though it can be, entails hard work and waste in throwing away spent plants at the end of the season. The country garden, however, has always thrived on sustainability and the economy of the continuation of the garden. This means planting schemes which renew themselves year after year. Perennial flowers such as Agapanthus, Alstroemeria, Fuschia and of course, old English roses combined with perennial herbs such as Rosemary, Mint or Chives are the backbone of the country garden. A shrub border dotted with wildflowers to attract pollinators is increasingly de rigeur for today’s environmentally aware gardener, but if you want a more modern twist to your planting scheme, you could always add a few statement plants such as Australian ferns, Japanese Acers or exotic palms to showcase your garden furniture.

Embrace the natural look

The whole point of the traditional country garden is to create a natural feel, to make it look like it has always been there. To this end, garden furniture styled with natural curves, latticework and soft lines blends in beautifully with a traditional planting scheme, stone paths and unobtrusive lighting.

 

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