Red cedar garden benches are an excellent way to make your garden instantly more inviting and friendly. They provide a place to sit and enjoy the scenery, whether that be a few raised flower beds or an impressive water feature.
They can also be strategically placed in a shaded spot so you can enjoy your garden even in the height of summer.
There are some really impressive and creative ways to use a garden bench. For example, you could strategically place it so vines and flowers grow around and up the legs.
Whatever your reason for using a garden bench, the first thing you’re going to want to determine is what it’s going to be made out of.
At a Glance – Our Top 5 Pics For Red Cedar Garden Benches
Red Cedar Trestle Bench
Red Cedar Contoured Bench
Red Cedar Contoured Backed Bench
Red Cedar English Garden Bench
Red Cedar Classic Fanback Garden Bench
Cut from a spectacular tree of the species Thuja, red cedar is a type of wood from an evergreen coniferous tree native to North America.
This wood gets its name from the warm color of the wood which is vibrant and welcoming. This makes it an ideal choice for brightening up your garden.
Below we’ll be looking at our favorite five red cedar garden benches and a few considerations to remember when choosing your new piece of furniture.
In a hurry? This is our winner!
Red Cedar Garden Benches – Comparison Table
Red Cedar Garden Benches – Reviews
The Red Cedar Trestle Bench is a beautifully crafted bench with two T shaped legs with planks across them for added stability.
The seat itself is made from two planks of western red cedar wood which look sleek, stylish, and traditional. This bench pairs well with the matching Trestle Table if you’re interested in using your bench for a social gathering such as a picnic or garden party. However, the Trestle Bench is also elegant on its own and fits into any garden effortlessly.
You can choose this bench in a range of different sizes, from two foot to 8 foot, going up in one-foot increments so you can customize your new bench to fit perfectly in your space. Both the six and eight-foot options also come with an additional middle leg, so don’t worry about the weight capacity or bowing.
This bench has no backing meaning it’s very easy to store when you need extra space, and all the different sizes are reasonably weighted meaning you won’t need a whole army to move this thing.
Moreover, there are plenty of testimonies from happy customers saying how easy it is to install and enjoy.
- This bench comes in a range of sizes.
- It can come with protectant stain, foot pads, and improved hardware for additional prices.
- Its simple design fits with any garden.
- Basic hardware isn’t the most durable.
- You have to pay extra for sealants and good hardware.
Red Cedar Garden Benches – Buyers Guide
Durability
If you’re buying a garden bench, you’re going to want it to last a long time and not decay thanks to poorer conditions such as rain and snow. Wood is susceptible to rotting when too wet. It can also begin to turn green.
Nothing lasts forever, but you want it to last longer than the first frost. Due to this, your red cedar bench is going to need to be treated and painted with a stain before letting it fend for itself outside.
Choose a red cedar bench which is either designed to tackle all weather conditions, or purchase a stain or sealant and fully coat your bench to ensure the lifespan is as long as possible.
Quality
The quality of the wood needs to be high in terms of durability and resistance. You don’t want your lovely red cedar to turn green over time, or lose its color to the harsh sunlight, so the quality of the wood used is very important.
Red cedar is a softwood which makes it more susceptible to issues in comparison to hardwood. Make sure you’ve got high-quality sealants and protectants on hand. You could also consider a protective cover to place over it during the particularly harrowing weather.
Hardware
The hardware that comes with your garden bench is what holds it all together. There is no use buying a high-quality bench which falls apart as soon as you sit on it thanks to weak hardware. The screws, bolts, and washers that hold the legs onto the seat securely should be weatherproof and durable. This will ensure you’re not in for any nasty surprises when you go to sit down in the sunshine.
Stainless steel is a tough and sturdy material to be used for garden bench hardware. Choose a model that comes with this or be prepared to buy some replacement hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much maintenance do garden benches need?
Ideally, you’d want to conduct maintenance on your garden bench at the end of summer while the weather is still sunny to prepare it for the grueling winter. Softwood benches, like red cedar, need to be washed down and restained regularly, preferably every year.
You should pay particular attention to the horizontal edges and the feet which are more likely to come into contact with water more often. Consider staining these more often to ensure they’re never vulnerable.
Hardwood garden benches are more durable than softwood, so you really only need to wash it down and coat it with another layer of stain once a year. Use foot covers to prevent the legs from being exposed to a lot of water too much and you should be fine.
Metal and plastic benches need to be cleaned regularly and checked for issues such as rust or cracks while doing so. Metal benches will need to be painted with a protectant every couple of years and plastic benches should be stored away when not in use as too much exposure to extreme temperatures could weaken the plastic.
This is a good rule of thumb, however, every piece of furniture is different and you should check your bench regularly to keep it in its best condition.
Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:
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