The first thing to remember is that wood is natural and the appearance of wood will change when left outdoors. This is part of the natural process of protection which the wood undergoes as it acclimatizes to being exposed to the atmosphere.

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.

In applying teak oil, you ought to pay particular attention to the end grain and to any joints. Any oil which remains on the surface must be removed with a cloth and please make sure that the furniture is fully dry before you use it! We have known people to ruin a lovely set of clothes by sitting on newly oiled furniture!

Before re-applying teak oil, it is essential that any accumulated dirt is removed by scrubbing with a stiff brush and soapy warm water. When the furniture has dried completely, rough areas may be lightly sanded. If the dirt is not removed before treatment, black areas will appear on the surface where the oil and dirt have mixed.

* Remove any accumulated dirt by scrubbing with a brush and warm soapy water.

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, and make certain that the centre is higher than the sides to ensure the rain water runs off.

* Remove any dirt which has accumulated by rubbing with a stiff brush and warm water.

* Allow the furniture to dry completely

* 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

* Wipe of excess oil

* Wipe away excess oil

* Dry thoroughly before use

* Repeat once twice each season

So, if you want your garden furniture to avoid the worst ravages of the weather, then the ideas John Duff of Garden Furniture Scotland has outlined might help.