"life's too short to wrestle covers in the snow."
Haha, totally feel you on this one. I remember one winter evening, wind howling, snow blowing sideways, and there I was—fighting a tarp that seemed determined to fly away like a kite. After that fiasco, I switched to weather-resistant furniture too. As for the self-watering planters, you're not alone. Mine turned my basil into a spoiled brat... it wilted dramatically whenever I tried going back to regular watering. Plants these days, am I right?
Haha, your basil sounds like mine—totally spoiled by those self-watering pots. Have you tried mixing regular potting soil with a bit of sand or perlite? It helps drainage and keeps the plants from getting too used to constant moisture. Also, for furniture, I found that a quick wipe-down with car wax once or twice a season keeps even cheaper patio sets looking surprisingly good through rough weather... might save you some cash instead of splurging on high-end stuff.
Your basil situation sounds familiar—I had a client once who swore by those self-watering pots, but eventually, the plants got so spoiled they couldn't handle a weekend without constant moisture. Mixing in sand or perlite is a solid tip; I've seen it work wonders for drainage, especially in humid climates.
Funny you mention car wax on patio furniture. Reminds me of a job I did a couple years back—client had this old metal patio set that looked like it had seen better days. He was ready to toss it, but I suggested a quick sanding and a coat of automotive wax. He was skeptical, but after we finished, he couldn't believe how much better it looked. Saved him from dropping serious cash on new furniture. Sometimes those simple hacks really do the trick...
Never thought about car wax for patio furniture...interesting tip. Wonder if it'd hold up as well on wood surfaces? Might give it a shot next weekend and see how it goes. Thanks for sharing!
I've actually tried car wax on wooden patio furniture before, and it does work surprisingly well. Just make sure the wood is properly sealed first—otherwise, moisture can still seep in underneath and cause issues down the line. Personally, I prefer marine-grade waxes or sealants for wood surfaces since they're specifically formulated to handle moisture and UV exposure. Might cost a bit more upfront, but you'll thank yourself later when your furniture still looks great after a couple seasons...
