Get set for summer in the garden

May marks the beginning of an hysteric optimism in regard to the approaching summer.

This year the sun will grace the shores of Hibernia for sure and certain.

Endless sylvan days will be punctuated with the odd afternoon of cotton-soft rain to perk up the pricey annuals plunged into the borders.

I was at a large DIY and garden retailers in Cork last week and watched in fascination as happy families carried pieces of woven lounge furniture the size of pubescent elephants, to their compact cars.

Apparently, corner sofas are all the rage. I’m confused. Chances are, we’ll have a couple of weeks of achingly lovely weather cramped by a great deal of Wet Éireann.

We’re quick on our feet when a party or family gathering goes wrong, so make your summer buys equally versatile.

As for the monster suites? The covers are on the rack to the right as you’re facing the door.

MATERIAL MATTERS

You can pay up to €3,000 for a top of the line suite from an Irish garden specialist, but shop around as competition between suppliers is fierce and quality varies wildly. Examine how the piece is jointed together, the comfort of unpadded seats right through the base and back and consider its stability when set over two imperfect paving slabs. Stacking or folding action in chairs can make all the difference to shoving it all into the shed in September. Coloured resins and plastics should be marked as UV stable to resist fading (you know — in our blistering August light).

Country Lane by British artist Jacqueline Hammond. With its enticing avenue of trees, this design is a print of a painting entitled ‘Mum’s Drive Home’. Just slip it on to replace any standard deck-chair cover. €84.22. notonthehighstreet.com

* Pine: economic, lightweight and perfect for staining if you want an exact colour result. Treat your wood to a micro-porous paint or stain that will preserve while letting timber breathe. Six-seater picnic benches start from €100, five-piece dining sets from €150. Weather resistant, breathable covers start at €20 for a large chair. Cheap PVC covers will make any wood ‘sweat’ introducing mould and rot.

This magnificent Paradiso day bed in hand-woven PU rattan channels a charming Eastern magic at €1,949. DFS.

* Resin: Resin threads can be coloured and woven into tradition rattan and seagrass-style fabrics which will not rot like their natural counterparts. Combined with rust-free aluminium and steel, they are light to move. Prices vary from €350 plus for a four-seater set combining resin and hardwood elements but prices for enormous pieces, or signature designs, can run to the thousands. Be realistic about going large with gorgeous Bel Air heavies.

* Hardwood: Hardwood pieces are durable enough to stay out all year round. Prepare unfinished wood with two coats of teak oil at the start of the season. From €150 for a two-seater bench with central table; to €500-€800 for a quality four-seater dining set with umbrella and fabric accessories. For the sake of the rain forests only ever buy FSC certified wood. Ask for proof of certification when purchasing budget suites from small independent retailers through the classifieds.

* Plastic: Cheap and highly forgiving, plastic furniture is light enough to move around in the shifting shade of the garden. Beware of pieces blowing away in high winds. Simply wash it down regularly using a gentle application of cream cleaner to shift stubborn spots. From €100 for a four-seater set with small table. Look at IKEA’s Popptorp range or pod like armchairs, my choice for eccentric carvers. Approx€60 with cushion. Super-sized Real Comfort Adirondack armchairs in US country-style from Topline outlets are a steal at €24.99 in a choice of candy colours.

From €2,532. A complete twist on the traditional garden bench, this stainless steel form is handmade by Alex Moore. Available polished or powder coated in a range of RAL colours. Mooredesigns.co.uk

* Aluminum and steel: If you want weight and durability opt for steel furniture. Requires little maintenance apart from cleaning and reupholstering. Coated steel loungers from €40 with loose cushions. Three-seater rockers and fixed hammocks from €250.

STORE OR COVER:

Beyond scale and styling, moving and storing is a vital component when choosing garden furniture. Weather resistance is wonderful, but do you want a shrouded Stonehenge on the patio from October to May next year? The more ‘proper’ the furniture, the more likely you need to work out its winter accommodations.

Delightful, inexpensive, and channelling classic garden furnishings, this simple foldout timber table is available in a coastal blue or pure white at just €20. Tiger Stores.

There’s no shame to dragging out those resin mid-century dining chairs; French café metal lovelies and that under-used conservatory furniture to the patio and throwing open a folding table or two.

Frankly, a bit of modesty here makes perfect sense and is often just as comfortable as the full a-la-carte spend. Just don’t leave indoor upholstery materials out overnight. Dew will penetrate every fibre.