Getting garden ornaments through a New York winter
Most of what is left out over winter survives. The things that do not are predictable, and so is the damage.
Water and freezing is the mechanism
Almost all winter damage comes from water getting into something and expanding as it freezes. Resin, ceramic and anything hollow are the candidates.
Keeping water out matters more than keeping cold out.
What can stay out
Powder-coated metal stakes, solid resin figures and most signs and flags handle a New York winter without trouble.
They may fade or develop a patina, which is weathering rather than damage.
What should come in
Solar units, anything with a battery, hollow ceramics and glass. Cold flattens batteries and cracks anything that traps water.
A shed, a hallway or under a stair is enough. It does not need to be heated.
Store solar lights charged
A lithium or NiMH cell left flat for months degrades far more than one stored with charge in it. Charge them in the sun before they come in.
Bringing them out in March and finding them dead is almost always this.
Lift things off the ground
Anything sitting directly on soil wicks moisture upward all winter. A brick, a pallet or a shelf changes that entirely.
This applies as much to a shed floor as to a border.
Clean before storing
Soil and organic matter left on metal holds moisture against it all winter. Ten minutes with a brush is worth more than any coating.
Dry them properly before they go away.
Coming back out
Check stakes for rust at the ground line, wipe solar panels, and test batteries before placing anything. Spring is when weak points show.
Doing this in one session in March is easier than replacing things piecemeal in June.
Questions that come up with this
Are you open on Mondays?
No. We are closed Mondays and open Mon: Closed · Tue–Sun: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. The shop is at 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10026.
How long until my order arrives?
We pack within one or two working days; the carrier then takes another two to five to reach most addresses.
What is the shipping charge?
$5.95 flat per order, and free once you pass $49.00.
The FAQ page covers the rest.
Where this sits in the shop
Azza's Garden groups its range into 7 sections, so it is usually quicker to start from the group than to scroll the whole shop. These are the ones with stock on the shelf right now:
- Solar Garden Lights — 10 items
- Statues and Ornaments — 4 items
- Garden Signs and Flags — 4 items
- Garden Stakes — 2 items
- Wall and Fence Decor — 1 item
- Bird and Wildlife — 1 item
If none of those is obviously right, the full shop lists everything on one page.
Coming in instead
Azza's Garden is at 1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10026, open Mon: Closed · Tue–Sun: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM. If you would rather look at something before buying it, call +1 212-256-0004 and we will put it aside for you.
Anything already ordered can be followed on the order tracking page.
Four products that show the range
The least expensive way in: YCDMLJC Fall Pumpkin Welcome Garden Flag, 12×18 Inch Double-Sided Decor at $3.66. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A step up from the basics: WENMIXER Clear Window Bird Feeder with Adhesive Hooks for Wild Birds at $13.59. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
A middle-of-the-range option: Jesokiibo 2-Pack Colorful Metal Agave Plant Rustic Garden Sculptures, 12″ & 16″ at $21.59. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
The most substantial option: Marlrin Vintage Bronze LED Outdoor Lanterns with Dancing Flame – 2 Pack at $38.99. Listed with its own specification table, so the dimensions and what is in the box are on the page rather than in a description.
What it costs
Across the 23 items currently listed, prices run from $3.66 to $38.99, with the middle of the range around $18.99. That spread is worth knowing before you start comparing, because the cheapest and dearest options here are usually not the same kind of product at all.
Shipping is a flat $5.49 per order and free once the order reaches $39.00, which is set out in full on the Shipping Policy page.
Related reading
Other pieces in this journal that cover neighbouring ground:
- How much sun a solar garden light actually needs
- Metal garden stakes in ground that has gone hard
- Gardening in containers on a Harlem stoop or balcony
- Bird feeders on a window, and what actually visits
The full journal index lists everything we have written so far.
In short
Most of what is left out over winter survives. The things that do not are predictable, and so is the damage. If you want to talk it through rather than read about it, +1 212-256-0004 reaches the shop during opening hours, and the contact page has everything else.