July and August should be the months when we are able to sit back and relax in the garden; however, in this turbulent weather, nothing should be taken for granted. Relaxing in the garden can mean very different things, peace and quiet with a crossword and pot of coffee, or sitting down to an alfresco meal with friends. Both of these activities will need some sort of Garden Furniture to provide comfort and make the event a success. So in this issue we will look at the different types, styles and materials used in modern garden furniture.

It was probably only four-fi ve years ago that timber was by far the most popular material used in Garden Furniture; however, sales in the meantime have dropped dramatically, both for ecological concerns over sourcing of hardwood from tropical forests, price rises in materials due to availability and supply and, in my view, simply because wood requires more maintenance than other materials.

This last point is a shame because timber really only needs cleaning and oiling a couple of times a year, which generally will take up less time than most people spend cleaning their car! The best wooden furniture is made from Teak, which has a very high oil content and therefore does not deteriorate as quickly as other wood. Teak and similar hardwoods such as Iroko and Mahogany, if left untreated, will go silvery grey over a period of time, which to some people gives it a natural look; however, if these woods are treated they can retain their lovely golden brown colours.  Two ‘modern’ hardwoods that have been widely used in furniture construction are Eucalyptus and Acacia, which are quicker growing than traditional hardwoods and, as such, more widely available under the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) system.  These ‘cheaper’ hardwoods do not have the consistent colouring of Teak and are generally treated with a stain to achieve an even colour. 

Looked after properly, Teak should have a lifespan of over 30 years in the garden, Iroko 20 years, Mahogany 15 years and Eucalyptus, Acacia, Meranti and Courbril ten years. If nothing else, benches are very traditional products and look fantastic in timber.  Cast Aluminium Furniture has been around for a number of years, its benefi ts are that it does not rust, it has a classic country garden look to it, is fairly solid (although not heavy like steel) and can be modernised simply by changing cushion and parasol fabrics. The downside to Cast Aluminium is that you do really need a cushion to be comfortable and it does not generally stack or fold away easily. As the name suggests, Cast Aluminium is made from a solid ‘cast’ piece of Aluminium, usually available in traditional colours such as black, green and white.

Tubular Aluminium in recent years has been used in conjunction with a man made fabric called ‘Textylene’. This combination has created a modern looking range of furniture that is very practical - cushions are not always needed, it folds and stores easily and it dries out quickly, is very comfortable, lightweight and very suited to modern gardens. It is often paired with Glass top tables and available in a range of colour combinations.  It is also very suited to ‘Swing Hammocks’ - the freestanding hammocks that two or three people can relax on. The problem with this product is that it can be produced very cheaply and there has been a big infl ux of ‘cheap, throwaway’ product that does not look that dissimilar to better quality and long lasting ranges.

The current Garden Furniture trend is a combination of a classic look, low maintenance and man made materials. ‘Resin Weave’ or ‘Rattan’ furniture currently takes up well over half of the Garden Furniture market and is based on the classic designs and looks created by Lloyd Loom.  Whereas the original Lloyd Loom products were made from Kraft paper wrapped around a wire, the modern material is entirely synthetic and can therefore be left outside with no maintenance. The original Lloyd Loom furniture had a beech frame, but Garden Furniture now uses an Aluminium frame which makes it lightweight and rust proof.  My ideal uses for furniture would be as follows;

Weave for a comfortable table and chair set, Teak for a bench, Tubular Aluminium and Textylene for a swing hammock and Cast Aluminium for a small ‘Tea for Two’ bistro set.

BOSWORTH’S Nurseries & Garden Centre
01536 722635
Only minutes from J10 off the A14 and midway between Kettering and Wellingborough

OPEN: Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm
Sun: 10am - 5pm • Disabled Access

All Credit Cards Accepted

NOT JUST A GARDEN CENTRE

July & August Garden

July & August Garden

July & August Garden

Bosworths Garden Centre