How to prepare your garden for autumn and winter

Sep 22, 2025

Autumn and winter are widely anticipated in the UK, giving us permission to snuggle up inside and witness the changing seasons from our window. However, with colder and harsher weather comes certain responsibility to protect your garden and its furniture from any adverse effects.

Here at Hills Home & Garden, we’ve been transforming gardens and lifestyles since 1997 with our stunning range of luxury outdoor furniture. In this article, we’ll outline how to protect your garden and its furniture from the effects of autumn and winter.

Please remember to always consult manufacturer instructions for the most relevant information before following any advice.

How to protect garden furniture for the colder months

Garden furniture makes a garden welcoming and liveable, and so you might be wondering how to protect garden furniture in winter and autumn when the weather is at its least favourable. Here are some tips to follow when it comes time to tidy away your furniture for the season:

Clear away dirt, moss or leaves to prevent rot or mould.
Wash the furniture with warm soapy water and wipe with a gentle cloth, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Thoroughly wash away the soap once you are finished.
If the manufacturer recommends it, you can also use colour restorers, stains and protectors to ensure your furniture looks its absolute best for next year. Wicker furniture may require special wicker protectors while mesh furniture may need touch-up paint or wax. You can even purchase spray-on protectors for cushions.
Once they are cleaned and protected, carefully store away all furniture, including cushions and parasols, to keep them protected from moisture, debris, frost, wind and UV damage. Here at Hills Home & Gardens, we provide a garden tidy range to stylishly store furniture and accessories, including garden furniture covers, storage for outdoor cushions and parasol covers. Browse online to see our full range or ask our team for more information.
Check with the manufacturer as some furniture is fine to be stored outside all year round with the appropriate covers, while some pieces may be better suited being inside a shed or garage.

We hope the above tips will help you protect garden furniture in autumn and winter when conditions become harsher.

How to prepare your garden for autumn

Autumn brings plenty of rain, colder weather and falling leaves. It’s the time to enjoy the last dregs of warm weather and start packing away for winter.

Keep on top of leaf fall. This is especially important for decking and furniture, as wet leaves can rot wood and create slip hazards. Clear away the leaves and use them for compost or leafmould.
Rake away thatch and debris build-up on your lawn and aerate the soil with a garden fork if suitable for your plans. Also note that if you want to lay brand new turf, autumn is the best time to do this so it establishes itself before next summer.
Clear and tidy up borders, and get rid of any summer plants that are not likely to last the winter.
Plant evergreens to give your garden some interest throughout the cold weather, and plant spring bulbs ready for next year.
Put a net over ponds to stop falling leaves from disturbing or contaminating the water.
You may wish to use furniture covers in autumn, as there will be some warm days in early autumn when enjoying your garden is still a possibility and so you won’t want to continuously move your furniture from inside to outside.

Ultimately, how you respond to autumn will depend on the month and what it brings, but the key is to spend it getting ready for winter.

How to prepare your garden for winter

Winter is known for its bitter temperatures, early morning frosts and even snowfall. Here are some tips for preparing a garden for winter:

It’s very unlikely that much gardening will be taking place in winter, so put all tools and equipment in safe and dry storage. It’s equally unlikely that you will be using garden furniture in winter, so move all pieces indoors or place covers over them.
Protect any delicate plants that will suffer in cold temperatures by moving them indoors to a greenhouse or potting shed.
Prune deciduous trees and shrubs to tidy up in time for next year.
Plan for next year’s planting scheme and layout, and place orders for new seeds.
Consider putting up a bird feeder to help wildlife thrive during the cold season.

In summary, to prepare your garden for winter or to get your garden ready for autumn, you need to think about everything from plants to furniture, making sure your outdoor space is beautiful and welcoming when things warm up.

Luxury outdoor living begins with Hills Home & Garden, the leading provider of stunning garden furniture sets, covers and outdoor structures for Kent. Be inspired with a visit to our impressive regional showroom or browse our affordable products online for easy delivery. Whatever you imagine for your lifestyle, we’re here to get you started.