Many customers ask if our products stand up to freezing temperatures. Well, yes and no. While we expect the products we sell to be hardy, Mother Nature can be tougher. (Ice and freezing have compromised George Washington's nose on Mt. Rushmore!) The following recommendations are offered to help insure that your statuary purchases give you years of pleasure.
Winter care for your garden statuary begins in the Fall. If you live in an area that expects a fair amount of precipitation (like Seattle), you'll greatly prolong the beauty and life of your piece by applying a water sealer. Use a product made for concrete or masonry and follow the label directions. We find water sealing especially important for birdbaths and fountains--items that hold water. Bench and table tops also benefit from sealing. (Think of it like waxing the car. An ounce of prevention...) For fountains and birdbaths, sealing once a year is good practice. Pick a warm, sunny day to drain the piece and let it dry. Apply the sealer inside and out with a brush or spray bottle. Let it dry thoroughly, then refill with water. Seal tables, benches and statuary every other year.
Make sure pots and planters drain properly. Use pot feet or 1/2" thick tiles to raise the pots so moss will not clog the drain holes. We also recommend placing a 1" - 2" layer of Styrofoam packing peanuts in the bottom of the pot prior to planting. (Test your peanuts to make sure they are not the dissolving, corn starch type.) If you have saucers under your pots, please remove them if you plan to leave the pots outside through the Winter. Saucers collect and hold water, which can lead to cracking. Also, loose dirt expands and contracts with temperature more readily than hard, compact dirt, so prepare the soil accordingly. (Your plants will be happy, too.!)
Birdbaths with sloping bowls are more forgiving of freezing than those with square sides. Your best bet is to remove the birdbath top and store it away until Spring. If you cannot do that, place a chunk of Styrofoam in the basin and place a rock on the top. (To prevent the Styrofoam from blowing out, and to look a little more aesthetically pleasing.) Cover the birdbath during "hard freeze" periods.
For fountains: If you live in areas like Seattle where our Winter weather is mostly rain with a little freeze at night, we recommend pouring vodka in the water and letting the fountain run. Vodka lowers the freezing temperature of the water, acting like an anti-freeze, but won't harm those critters who use the fountain as a water dish. (Who knows, it might encourage those reluctant husbands to get out and rake the leaves!) Customers also have used RV antifreeze (non-toxic) in their fountains. For areas with harsher weather conditions or during periods of hard freeze, drain the fountain. Remove the drain plug if your fountain has one. Oftentimes this is enough to get the fountain through the Winter. In real cold climates, add the Styrofoam as per birdbaths, and cover the fountain.
For statues and other yard ornaments, we advise that you do not leave them standing in water that can freeze. Many of our manufacturers recommend placing the statues on a paving stone, not letting them come into contact with the ground. Painted items, like some of the animals or gnomes, should be allowed to Winter in a covered area. (We don't want the poor guys to get frost bitten.)
Just remember, while cast stone is strong and durable, Nature can be stronger. A little maintenance and care will keep your statuary investments beautiful for years to come!
Secret Garden Statuary carries a complete line of fountain and statuary care products, including fountain covers.