As autumn approaches, it’s important to protect your garden furniture from harsh weather, and Devon locals should do one specific thing now to avoid forking out a fortuneKatie-Ann Gupwell Acting Content Editor and Chloe Dobinson Digital Production Editor
10:14, 04 Sep 2025
Autumn is just around the corner and the weather can cause costly damage (stock image)(Image: Kathrin Ziegler via Getty Images)
As summer draws to a close, much to our disappointment, the evenings are becoming darker and the weather is turning chillier. Soon, we’ll have to begin the process of closing down our gardens for another year.
However, there’s one crucial task you need to undertake in September to ensure your garden equipment remains in top condition. Online videos are surfacing that demonstrate the best methods for storing away your garden furniture, and it’s critical to do this at the right time.
Data from innovative interiors brand, Ruggable, has disclosed the precise date you should be stowing away your garden furniture based on where you live.
After analysing weather and rainfall patterns across the UK’s capital cities over the past five years, Ruggable has identified the ideal time to pack away your outdoor furniture to prevent any damage.
For those in Edinburgh, it’s recommended to start packing up your garden furniture by mid-September (15th September), while residents of Cardiff should aim for 23rd September.
Meanwhile, those in Belfast have until 27th September, and Londoners can savour their outdoor spaces a bit longer, with the suggested date being the end of the month (30th September).
Elsewhere, such as Devon, it’s a good idea to aim for getting your outdoor space clear sometime in September.
Cassandra Leisz, Creative Director at Ruggable, explained: “As autumn arrives and temperatures begin to drop, it’s important to protect your garden furniture and furnishings from harsh weather, especially high winds and heavy rain downpours.
“To ensure your outdoor furniture lasts year after year, it’s best to bring it inside and store it safely away from these conditions, using the above dates as a guideline.
“It’s essential to bring your furniture indoors before they are exposed to prolonged rain, especially metal items such as tables and chairs that are prone to rust and corrosion.
“Outdoor rugs, cushions and upholstery should be brought indoors, too, before any rain or cold spells, as waterlogged fabrics can lead to stains, discolouration and mould growth. Rain can also accelerate colour fading and damage the finish or protective coatings on your furniture.
“By following these guidelines, you can keep your outdoor furniture protected all year round.”
Meanwhile, TikTok offers numerous guides demonstrating proper storage techniques for your outdoor pieces.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Countless users suggest purchasing substantial storage containers to keep your prized garden accessories secure during winter.
Protective covers are also available for tables and seating you wish to shield throughout the chillier period.
Waterproof storage bags provide additional protection for items requiring extra care. When ferguson_at_no5 posted the storage boxes on TikTok, viewers were thoroughly impressed, with one commenting: “Love this, we use one of these for our bins – then the other for tools and other bits so we don’t have to have a shed.”
Another chimed in: “This would be perfect for our garden.”
A third user also responded: “I have the exact same unit. We wrapped ours in a tarpaulin for extra protection.”
It comes as garden building experts are warning homeowners to remove paint and other common items from their sheds this autumn and winter.
GardenBuildingsDirect shared that people should remove paint from their outbuildings to avoid having to replace them.
Many items commonly stored in sheds are not able to withstand the elements during the autumn and winter months as they can be vulnerable to cold and damp weather.
Storing items incorrectly could be costly, as homeowners may end up having to replace them. For things like paint and electricals, this could end up being pretty expensive.
Keeping leftover paint in the shed is a common mistake. Storing paint properly is key to maintaining its quality and making sure it can be reused in the future.
Any paint that is leftover in the shed during the winter months could cause it to congeal, separate or dry out.
Comments are closed.