As well as providing essential shade on sunny days, parasols can also be an attractive feature for your garden or patio.
They not only provide shade and protection for human skin, but also provide protection for furniture.
Some furniture finishes can be damaged by the sunrays and rain-water, thus a parasol will keep your garden furniture shaded from the elements.
There are many different types; here are some top tips on choosing one.
Freestanding parasols are a popular choice as they can be moved around the garden, including sitting them in the middle of a table.
You have a choice of a metal or wooden pole and concrete or steel base, and the umbrella itself comes in a wide variety of bold styles and vibrant colours - the decision is yours as to whether you want your parasol to blend into your surroundings or if you'd rather make a statement! Wall-mounted parasols or patio awnings are fitted to an external wall and are a hassle-free option to shade a patio or decking area leaving the rest of the garden free of shade.
Many parasol umbrellas come in fade, stain and rot resistant materials and several can be detached for cleaning.
To keep it looking its best, clean with specialist upholstery shampoo.
Be sure to choose a sunny day to clean your parasol so it has a chance to dry out properly.
However, if you're short of time or your parasol is just dusty it can be cleaned easily and quickly using a vacuum cleaner! Parasols on long arms give you the flexibility of bending into the right position as the sun moves round.
Like the wall-mounted versions they are fixed to the wall so can not be moved around to other areas of your outdoor space.