Providing Seating in Your Garden

When I first starting coming home with different types of chairs and tables for the yard, my husband really had a difficult time understanding why. Soon he realized that I wanted convenient places to sit whenever and wherever we were working in the yard. For example, I have a bistro table and two chairs at one end of my large herb garden. I have a swing in the front yard between my husband's woodland garden and my mint garden. (This is my husband's favorite place to sit in the evening to watch the sunset.) Seating is important in any landscape, especially if you have a large yard, as we do. Even small gardens, however, can benefit from seating. Chairs and benches give you a place to rest when you are spending the day doing some serious gardening. They also encourage you to stop and enjoy the fruits of your labor and perhaps smell the roses. There are several different types of seating from which to choose, and your choices should be dictated by the type of garden area you have; e.g., rustic wooden benches probably would not work well in very formal gardens. You will also want to determine how you want to utilize your seating. Is it to be used as a gathering place for family and friends? Do you just want an area where you can enjoy a solitary respite frin the day? Following are different types of seating that you might want to consider for your garden.

Built-in furniture
You will normally find built-in furniture, usually in the form of bench seating, around decks and patios. These built-ins save space and work particularly well in small spaces, because they do not take up a lot of what little room there is. You can also add cushions for comfort and to add a splash of color to the area.

Portable furniture
Of course, you can also use portable furniture that can be easily moved for convenience or to change the look of your garden. Canvas furniture, such as a director's chair, is lightweight and easily stored when not in use. You can also find canvas chairs in a variety of colors to suit your palette.

Iron furniture
Wrought iron or cast iron furniture is much heavier and will usually require a more permanent spot in your garden. Iron furniture can also be rather expensive; however, smart shoppers can actually find pieces at reasonable prices. (Check flea markets and antique shops. I found my iron bistro table and chairs at a local antique shop at a price significantly lower than in other shops.) Most iron furniture is featured in white, which is lovely in the garden but can be difficult to clean. (Iron furniture tends to have very intricate designs.) You can either paint it a darker color so dirt will not be as noticeable or find a good cleanser that can be sprayed on the furniture to clean it.

Wooden furniture
Wooden furniture can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the style and color you use. You can choose furniture with clean lines for formal gardens or a more rustic style for your cottage garden. The wood can either be stained a color to blend with your garden or painted in a bright color to act as a focal point. You can also paint your furniture in a color that actually shows off your plants. For example, if you have a garden full of perennials that have blooms in hot colors -- red, orange, yellow -- you might want to paint the seating included with them in a cobalt blue. The cool blue will really make the hot-colored blooms stand out.

Stone or concrete furniture
Stone or concrete benches can be tucked away under trees for a shady spot to stop and rest. Of course, you can also purchase stone or concrete picnic tables and benches. Like iron furniture, this type of furniture is heavy and should be given a permanent spot in the garden. You can also look for concrete benches with intricate mosaics made of tile that covers the top of the bench. This can add some color to a shade garden, for example.

Plastic furniture
If you are on a budget, plastic furniture is definitely a viable option. Manufacturers are also producing plastic furniture that is quite attractive. For example, I have seen Adirondack-type chairs made of plastic that are quite nice-looking -- and comfortable. They also come in a variety of colors, such as red, bright blue, bright pink, and yellow. There are now several different styles of plastic furniture, and it is easy to find pieces that will work well in your landscape.

Tips: Buying furniture for your yard can be expensive; however, there are several ways in which you can save money. As I previously mentioned, check flea markets and antique shops. Shops that might be considered "junk" stores are also great places to find deals. (I bought two very nice, black iron chairs for a total of twenty dollars at such a store.) Hit the yard sales, too. Rustic benches can also be made by placing a plank of wood on wood logs that have been leveled. You can also stack stones or bricks for the end supports of your homemade bench.