Choose a quality picnic table for all-year round enjoyment of the outdoors.
Get more from your garden - from summer barbecue to winter sunshine - a picnic table will be there for you.
A picnic table in the garden is going to be one of the most overused pieces of furniture you ever invest in so, with that in mind, it is worthwhile spending the time choosing a good quality one.
On first consideration you may not feel that a picnic table is that important to you. Maybe you only have a small garden and not really enough space for one. It doesn't matter - if you buy a picnic table, you will want to sit at it whenever there is a bit of sunshine. Even in the middle of winter there are sunny days and it is nice to sit outdoors for a few minutes to bask in the winter sunshine while sipping a hot drink or having a bite to eat.
The summer is when a picnic table really comes into its own though as everyone wants to move outdoors. Think of all the options a picnic table can open up from a culinary perspective. There is the obvious barbecue, of course, with plates of freshly-cooked meat and plates of salad straight from the garden (or the local supermarket) to be washed down with some cold, refreshing sangria.
I think what makes meals at a picnic table so appealing is that it is a social leveler. There is no place for fancy silverware, china plates or standing on ceremony. 'Grub's up!' is the order of the day and everyone tucks in with delightful informality. But you don't just to have a barbecue - any meal will do. Later on in the evening, perhaps sipping a cup of tea and just sitting there contemplating life and watching the sun set on another day can be the ultimate de-stressing device known to the human race.
Kids will love the adventure of an eat out and, if the table is in the garden, you don't have the awful 'are we there yet?' drive to consider first.
Now to return to my original comment about getting a good quality picnic table. Don't forget this piece of furniture is going live outdoors and be exposed to all winds and rains and (hopefully) get a high level of usage too. Nowadays you can buy a picnic table made not just of the traditional wood (cedar, cherry, oak or teak) but also aluminum, plastic-coated steel and vinyl. Whichever you opt for make sure that the picnic table has sturdy legs, a steady and thick top surface and joints which can be tightened (you will need to do this regularly). Don't choose a picnic table which is largely glued or stapled together - they won't last long.
As soon as you have assembled it, it is a good idea to give your new picnic table some food of its own. Varnish and creosote are two old favorites but creosote is messy and varnish can become plastic on a hot day. There is also the problem of once you have chosen varnish there is no going back - ever. My preference is for teak oil which, although a little dearer, goes on readily, soaks into the wood and protects from within. You should look to do this job once a year - it is well worth it.
Another tip is to keep the feet off of soil (as this is what will cause your picnic table to either rot or rust). Sit the feet on some paving stones or, better still, lay a small concrete slab.
I hope you enjoy your new picnic table!
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