Garden statues in hibernation: How to protect your outdoor treasures from frost and cold

Garden sculptures are not only a beautiful garden decoration, but also an investment. To ensure that your bronze sculptures or stone cast figures last winter for winter, you should protect them from frost and cold.

In this article you will find some tips on how to preserve your garden sculptures from damage - especially during the cold winter months.

Garden sculptures in hibernation

When winter is approaching and the temperatures sink, it is important to protect your garden sculptures from frost and cold. Most sculptures are made of materials such as stone , metal or bronze and can be damaged at low temperatures.

To ensure that your outdoor treasures survive the winter unscathed, you should concentrate on the right preparation .

This initially includes thorough cleaning of the sculpture to remove dirt and dust. You should then suitable materials to protect your garden sculptures - whether covers or storage in a dry room depends on various factors.

Particularly sensitive materials such as ceramics or glass need special attention and special care during hibernation.

Do not forget to carry out regular checks during hibernation and to carry out thorough care for a successful start of your sculpture garden . With careful protection, your garden statues and outdoor figures beautiful even in winter!

sculpture garden of the Museum of Modern Art , designed as an outside space, shows how art outdoors also exercises its spell in winter. This offers visitors the pleasure of experiencing art in connection with heaven, sun and nature even in winter with frost, ice and snow.

In the following short film, experience the sculpture garden converted by soft snowfall on a snowy winter day.

Why is it important to protect garden sculptures from frost and cold?

Your garden statues have a value in many ways. The financial value is the obvious starting point, but it is works of art that are aesthetic importance and cultural importance for us. A collection of garden statues is worth more than the sum of its parts.

The value of a statue begins before we even put a foot in the garden and extends far beyond our lives.

In winter, statues, figures and wells should not be neglected in the garden. Frost and cold can harm you. It is therefore important to protect the sculptures from these elements.

Stone, marble, wood and even cast concrete are all susceptible to environmentalization. Outside statues that are exposed to elements in the hardest months are exposed to the devastation of the weather. Moisture in the form of rain, snow and our wet winter environment is the largest enemy of masonry and wood.

Materials such as stone, wood or ceramic are particularly sensitive, but metal sculptures can also develop rust stains if they are not treated properly.

Bronze figures also need special care in winter.

Please remember that the resin and art stone are strong and durable, but nature can be stronger. A little maintenance and care ensure that your investments in statues for your garden "bear fruits" in the coming years .

Many customers of our experts from Gartentraum.de ask whether outdoor statues and garden decorations can withstand long winters, extremely bad weather and freezing temperatures. The answer is, but only with the right care:

Although we expect the works of art we sell of the best quality, Mother Nature can be pretty hard with these pieces. ”

(Ice and icy temperatures even Michelangelos David !)

Extremes and fast temperature and moisture fluctuations can have a negative impact on their statues.

The change of seasons is inevitable. When the colder months come, it is time to think about protecting your home garden sculptures. The changing temperatures can seriously damage concrete bird drinks and works of art made of bronze, stone casting, metal and other materials.

The concrete can expand and contract, which makes it vulnerable to cracks. Harz and concrete stone also have the natural tendency to expand and contract depending on the climatic conditions.

In colder temperatures, the moist environment is preserved, and if the moisture is freezing, the effects of freezer-tau cycles cause damage to sensitive masonry and marble.

Moist environments also promote biological growth and pollution from air pollutants. Strong winds cause damage caused by whirled debris.

Weather influences and corrosion affect the finish and the patina of sculptures.

The right preparation: cleaning of the sculpture

In order to protect your garden sculptures from frost and cold, careful preparation is essential. Cleaning the sculpture is an important step in order to optimally prepare them for hibernation.

Depending on the material of the sculpture, there are different methods and cleaning agents to consider.

For metal sculptures as well as bronze or stone cast figures , the use of water and mild soap water is recommended, for example, while ceramic or glass figures should be cleaned with a damp cloth to avoid scratches.

Animal figures or water yield should also be cleaned thoroughly to remove possible deposits or contaminants. A clean surface also enables the protective materials used later be able to adhere better and thus offer better protection.

Materials to protect the garden sculpture

In addition to the correct cleaning, it is also important to use suitable materials to protect your garden sculptures from frost and cold.

Especially with sensitive materials such as ceramic or glass, you should fall back on special protective covers .

layer of wax or oil is suitable for metal sculptures to protect it from moisture. Stone cast figures can be treated with a special sealing spray in order to make them more resistant to winter weather conditions.

Water yields and animal figures should also not be neglected - here it is advisable to protect additional protection by planning cover or special winter hoods .

regular polish can with bronze figures to protect the material from corrosion.

Painted statues also benefit from a clear acrylic spray color in order to slow down through sunlight. Before spraying the entire statue, first test it on the underside of the base. If necessary, the protective layer can be applied again.

Make sure that the materials used are suitable for the outdoor area and that no damage to the sculpture can cause. Through careful protection, their garden sculptures remain in their full shine even in winter.

Cover or store? Advantages and disadvantages of both methods

When it comes to winter care from garden sculptures, the question often arises whether you should rather cover or store them. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed down depending on the individual situation.

If you have enough space and want to optimally protect your sculpture from frost and cold, storage a good option. However, some points should be observed, such as choosing the right location and thorough cleaning of the sculpture before storing.

Covering ideal for all those who do not have enough storage space or want to keep garden sculpture as a decorative element in the garden Special protective covers or planning made of weatherproof material such as PVC or polyester are suitable for this.

However, it is important to ensure that no moisture can occur under the cover and that it is not too close to the object.

Whether you ultimately rely on storage or cover: regular control and, if necessary, care during hibernation is in any case recommended in order to enjoy the garden sculpture for a long time.

Special features of sensitive materials such as ceramics or glass

Sensitive materials such as ceramic or glass need special treatment to be protected from frost and cold.

Outdoor sculptures from these materials are often very filigree and can easily break or damaged if they are not prepared properly.

To avoid this, you should carefully clean your sculpture and then treat with a suitable protective agent. A good option is, for example, a special wax for sensitive materials such as ceramics or glass. This wax forms a protective layer on the surface of your sculpture, which it presents from moisture and frost damage.

In addition, you can protect your garden sculpture with a cover made of soft fabric to keep it from direct cold.

It is important that this cover is breathable so that no moisture is accumulated under it and further damage can be caused.

Water features and fountains

If you can change your fountain , you should consider setting it up inside in winter. However, many wells are too big to transport them and keep them at home. In addition, it must be ensured that no water accumulates in the fountain.

When it collects, it freezes. You also want to make sure that your fountain is not in an ice lach. The best way to do this is to turn your well or water feature around and then cover it.

If possible, remove the pump from the object. If you can remove it, you should keep it in your home. If you cannot turn the bowl of the well or water feature over, fill them with a absorbent material like sack linen. As soon as you have done this, you should cover the entire item with hard -wearing plastic and attach it to a binding thread. The sack linen helps to absorb condensed water.

Many statues are designed for the rough winter weather. Fortunately, many statues can stay outside all year round. But those who are outside can also benefit from a small additional protection to extend their lives. If everything else fails, you invest in a household insurance in the event that something happens.

Regular control and care during hibernation

During hibernation, it is important that garden sculptures are regularly checked and maintained. Especially with sensitive materials such as ceramic or glass, you should make sure that they have not been damaged.

Even if you have already protected your sculpture with the right materials from frost, small damage can always occur.

Regular control helps you to quickly recognize them and repair them accordingly. You should also make sure that no moisture has formed under the cover or in the storage. In stone figures, for example, cracks can form when water penetrates and freezes into the pores.

Be careful when rooming snow and ice . Be careful when removing snow or ice that may have fallen on your sculptures. To carefully remove the snow, use a soft brush or a cloth.

Make sure not to damage the surface of the sculpture. To melt the ice, avoid the use of strong chemicals such as salt, as they can damage the surface of the sculpture.

The awakening in spring: tips for the new beginning

When spring comes and nature awakens to new life, it is also time for your garden sculptures to wake up from your hibernation.

After carefully protecting your sculptures in winter, you can now find new ways to stage them. Perhaps you would like to choose a new position or a new location for your statue or add some new decorations to your surroundings.

A bronze statue can be broken back polish

Help of experts with questions or problems

Designed experts for outdoor sculptures and art-ready Gartendeko from Gartentraum.de and Ars Mundi will be happy to answer any questions or problems by email or by phone.

You can give you more tips and advice on how to best protect garden sculptures Do not hesitate to contact you to ensure that your outdoor treasures can survive the winter without damage.

With their help, you will be able to select the right materials and to develop a suitable protection strategy for your sculptures.

Give your garden sculptures in hibernation the attention and care you earn! This is the only way to keep you looking at in winter and give you joy to see your winter garden.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/