Caring for Your Metal Garden Décor

Keep It Looking Great for Years to Come

One of the things we love most about metal garden décor is how it brings color, movement, and personality to a landscape. Whether it's a wind spinner catching the breeze, a colorful garden stake tucked among your flowers, or a whimsical critter greeting visitors, a little seasonal care goes a long way toward keeping it looking its best.

While outdoor metal décor is built to live outside, Mother Nature always wins eventually. Wisconsin sunshine, rain, humidity, and especially our long freezing winters slowly wear down even the toughest finishes.

The good news is that with just a little maintenance each year, you can dramatically extend the life of your metal décor and keep it looking beautiful season after season.

Our Recommendations

After caring for countless pieces ourselves and talking with customers over the years, we've found these simple steps make the biggest difference.

Bring It Indoors for Winter

If there's one thing we'd recommend above everything else, it's this.

When the gardening season comes to an end, store your metal décor in a garage, shed, basement, or other dry location for the winter.

Most pieces won't immediately rust away if they're left outside, but repeated freeze-thaw cycles, snow, ice, and moisture can quickly dull painted finishes and allow rust to begin forming. Bringing your décor inside each winter is the easiest way to preserve its color and finish for years to come.

Protect the Finish Each Spring

Before placing your décor back outside each season, we recommend applying a few light coats of Rust-Oleum 2X Clear Gloss Spray Sealer.

It's the same product we use because it adds a durable protective coating that helps shield painted finishes from moisture and UV exposure while restoring a little of that fresh-from-the-store shine.

Spring Preparation

1. Start with a Good Cleaning

Remove any dirt, dust, pollen, cobwebs, or other debris using a garden hose and a damp cloth.

Be sure to check decorative details, seams, and tight corners where dirt likes to collect. A clean surface allows the sealer to bond much better, and it's always easier to clean first than to accidentally seal dirt beneath the finish.

2. Check for Rust

If you notice any small rust spots beginning to form, lightly remove them with fine sandpaper or fine steel wool before applying sealer.

Don't worry if you find a little surface rust—that's normal over time. Catching it early helps keep it from spreading.

3. Apply the Sealer

Move the piece to a well-ventilated area. Outdoors on a calm day works great, and placing it on cardboard or a drop cloth helps protect the surrounding area from overspray.

Apply Rust-Oleum 2X Clear Gloss Spray Sealer using several light, even coats rather than one heavy coat. Allow each coat to dry according to the directions on the can before applying the next.

We usually recommend starting with two light coats, but use your best judgment. If the finish still looks uneven or the piece will spend all summer in direct sunlight, a third light coat can provide a little extra protection.

Unlike our concrete décor, don't be afraid to coat every exposed surface—including the underside and hard-to-reach areas. Moisture doesn't just land on the top of a piece.

4. Let It Cure

Allow the sealer to fully dry and cure according to the manufacturer's instructions before placing your décor back in your garden.

During the Season

Metal décor doesn't require much maintenance once it's outside.

An occasional rinse with the garden hose or a quick wipe with a damp cloth is usually enough to remove pollen, dust, bird droppings, or other debris. Keeping the finish clean helps it stay looking its best throughout the season.

If your décor spends all day in full sun or has been through an especially wet summer, another light coat of sealer later in the season can help maintain the finish.

A Few Final Thoughts

No outdoor finish lasts forever. Every garden is different, and sunlight, weather, humidity, and winter temperatures all affect how quickly a finish naturally ages.

These recommendations are simply what we've found works best here at Bellagoat Farms and what we use to care for our own outdoor décor. While we can't guarantee how long any particular finish will last, a little seasonal maintenance goes a long way toward protecting your investment and keeping your garden looking its best for years to come.