Wooden garden planters are a timeless addition to any garden. Still, exposure to the elements can cause their finish to fade or wear over time. Regular maintenance keeps your planters looking their best and extends their lifespan.

Preserve Planter Durability: Regular maintenance prevents rot and wear from weather exposure.

Restore Beauty: A fresh stain enhances the wood’s natural grain and improves its aesthetic.

Eco-Friendly Solution: Help them last for more years without having to replace them, restain them and give them a second life.

Our outdoor planters are pretty wet, and it was raining on filming day, so we’re demonstrating the process inside so that you know what to do come spring...

Clean Your Planter:
Start by cleaning your garden planter to remove dirt and grime.

Sand the Surface:
Use medium-grit sandpaper (around 120) to smooth rough or damaged areas. Move in line with the grain of the planter wood.

Clean the surface again to remove debris from the sanding.

Apply the Stain:
Using a clean paintbrush, evenly apply a thin layer of outdoor wood stain to the planter.

For best results, don't put too much on the brush to avoid drips, and work along the grain of the wood of the planter.

Leave it to dry before touching:
The planter will take around 20 minutes to dry to the touch.

If tidying or rearranging the soil and plants, wait until it's cured for around 1-2 hours.

A Refreshed Looking Garden Planter

Once your planter has dried out towards spring, this 10-15 minute job can help your wooden garden planter look fresh, give it a new layer of protection and help its longevity.

For more tips on caring for your garden and garden planters, explore our blog and follow us on Instagram for regular updates.

Applying Winter Mulch in Your Garden Planters

Organic mulch is perfect for garden planters, offering multiple benefits to boost plant health.

It retains moisture by reducing evaporation, keeps soil temperatures stable, and enriches the soil with nutrients as it breaks down.

Additionally, it suppresses weeds, minimising competition for resources.

Adding organic mulch to your planters creates an ideal environment for thriving, resilient plants.

Here's how to apply mulch to your garden planters...

Prepare the Soil:⁠ Loosen the soil and water before applying mulch; the mulch layer will help hold this initial moisture.⁠

⁠Add the Mulch Layer:⁠ Spread a 1-2 inch layer of organic mulch over the soil surface in your planter, leaving a small gap around the plant stems.⁠

⁠Replenish as Needed.⁠

To read more on organic mulch for your garden planters and your flower bed, head to our previous blog post here:

The benefits of using organic mulch in your garden planters