John Duff of Garden Furniture Scotland has some key tips for how to best care for your wooden garden furniture, regardless of whether it is made from keruing, red or yellow balau, or jarra wood.

Our customers often ask us how they might best care for their newly purchased wooden garden furniture when winter begins to set in. Remember, wood is a natural product and, as such will react to the environment in which it is store. If you have the space, it is recommended that in order to best protect your wooden garden furniture that you store it inside during the winter. If this is not possible, cover the set with a good quality breathable weather cover, ensuring that the centre is higher than the sides so that rain water runs off.

Do not use a cheap plastic cover as this will be counter productive and will, in fact, cause more harm than good. When using a cover, please be sure to arrange it so that the centre of the cover is higher than the sides so that rain water runs off.

Another common problem which can spoil the look of your garden furniture is when small amounts of sap resin will appear on the surface of the wood. Dark spots may occur if the furniture is placed in the shady spot under a tree due to falling sap and excretions from aphids. Crystallised resin can be removed using a stiff brush. While the resin is still sticky, a sharp knife can be utilized to remove most of the resin and white spirit can clean the affected surface.

Re-applying teak oil can only be done when the dirt which has built up over the season is completely removed by with warm soapy water and a good brush. Once the furniture has dried, you could lightly sand any rough areas. Black areas may appear where the oil and dirt have mixed if the dirt has not been removed prior to application.

As has already been stated, this patina effect cannot be avoided. However, you can take some action which will help to slow the process. If you would like to maintain the original colour of your furniture for longer, teak oil could be applied once or at most twice a season. This should be applied sparingly with a lint free cloth. This form of treatment will slow the weathering process and could also minimise surface cracks.

Here is the process:

Finally, pay particular attention to the end grain and to any hidden surfaces when applying the oil. Also look carefully at any joints or services. Excess oil should be wiped off with a clean lint free cloth. To protect your clothing, please ensure that the teak oil has dried fully before using the furniture!

To recap:

* Remove any dirt which has accumulated by rubbing with a stiff brush and warm water.
* Brush with warm soapy water to remove any dirt
* Scrape sap off the table using a knife
* Remove additional sap with white spirit
* Use teak oil sparingly, applying it with a lint free cloth
* Use a lint free cloth to apply teak oil sparingly
* Wipe off excess oil
* Dry your furniture thoroughly before use

NOTE: If the dirt is not removed before treatment, black areas will appear on the surface where the oil and dirt have mixed.

All the staff at Garden Furniture Scotland join me in hoping that these tips will help you to enjoy your furniture and to maintain it well throughout its lifetime.