Most people have a garden parasol if they have a table and chairs in their garden. But most of them have just the one. Is this a good idea or does it pay to have a spare one as well?
An Introduction To Garden Parasols
During the summer months there is nothing nicer than sitting out in your back garden, enjoying the beautiful weather – when we get it that is!
Garden Parasols from our Featured Retailers
But when the sun is shining you don’t necessarily want to be sitting out in it the whole time. Having some shade is always a great idea, as too much sun can be bad for us, as we know.
That is where the humble garden parasol comes in. We’ve created a website that brings you all the information you need on garden parasols. This includes where to buy them – check out our Shop Now section, which is packed with ideas and sources – and a comprehensive Buying Guide to help you make that decision even easier.
So let’s take a closer look at garden parasols and find out what you can expect.
What different kinds of garden parasols are available?
You might think that all garden parasols are pretty much the same. But as you start to look through all the possibilities you will be surprised by just how many different types there are available.
Parasols are very popular in a wooden finish, with a wooden pole and spokes at the top. Most of them will have a umbrella at the top which is made from material. You will also come across aluminium parasols as well, which look nice if you want a more modern feel to your garden parasol.
These are the two main types of parasol that you will find, although you can sometimes find plastic ones too. These aren’t very common though, mainly because the wooden and aluminium ones are both cheap enough that most people will go for one or other of these.
Do they all come on poles to be fitted into parasol bases?
Actually no, they don’t. Although this is clearly the most popular and widespread garden parasol that you will find, there are a couple of other types you can buy as well.
One is a parasol that attaches to the wall. This can be opened up and positioned to provide a nice amount of shade in an area close to your house. The other kind you may find on your internet travels is the kind that is freestanding. As the name suggests, this comes complete with a stand that the parasol is permanently fixed to. You can then move it around and use it wherever you need it to be.
Do they come in different sizes?
Yes they do. When you see a size written down it will usually refer to the diameter of the parasol. If you are going to buy it online you will probably find the product details will tell you how tall the parasol is as well.
The size you buy will largely be dependent on the size of the garden table you are using. Ask yourself this – will the parasol adequately cover everyone who is sitting underneath it? Buying a small parasol for a large table isn’t going to work very well.
Don’t forget the base!
This is the other important component of your garden parasol. Some people forget about this because it doesn’t usually come with the parasol itself. And once again you have a few choices to bear in mind when you buy your base.
You can get various different finishes, such as fake stone, stone, wrought iron, plastic, cast iron and one or two others as well. You may be limited slightly depending on the nature and style of your parasol. For example if you have a wooden parasol with a green cover, you might want to buy a matching green base for it as well.
Finding your garden parasol online
While you can go out and buy your new garden parasol in the shops, you may well find it a lot easier to buy it online.
We have created a big Shop Now section that will reveal all the best places to visit when you are in need of a new parasol. You can compare prices more easily online than you ccan if you are out and about shopping – and the delivery service is certainly easier than trying to carry it home yourself!
Watch out for accessories for your garden parasol as well
Once you have bought your brand new garden parasol you will find there are plenty of accessories you can also buy for it. A good example is a set of parasol lights. These are designed either to go around the edge of the parasol, or along the struts which go out from the central point.
Needless to say these are excellent for making your parasol even more versatile. You can hold a nice evening meal outside as the sun goes down, because the lights will still light up the table beneath it.
You may also want to get a parasol cover for those winter months when the parasol is not in use. This will be in the shape of a protective bag with a drawstring tie at one end, so you can put the parasol inside and store it away when not in use.
In conclusion
As you can tell, there are rather more garden parasols available than you might think! Figuring out the size, shape and type of parasol you need is the first step in making sure you get just the right one.
To this end you will also find our Buyer’s Guide for garden parasols very useful to read. By the time you have gone through the steps included in that article you should be well on the way to getting the best garden parasol for your own needs.
Don’t rush into buying the first thing you see though. You will find that there are lots of different prices available for garden parasols, so spending the time looking around our Shop Now section could save you a lot of money.
So why not go and take a look now? Once you have read the Buyer’s Guide you will be all set to buy the best garden parasol for your own garden.