Landscaping and Gardening Info

Patio furniture umbrellas can be found on just about every patio or deck in town. They are a popular item for outdoor living. Umbrellas usually come separately from an umbrella table and you can get them in all kinds of sizes and all kinds of shapes. They come in a variety of colors and sometimes can utilize some lovely designer fabrics. You can even find the more elegant looking umbrellas with a single canopy and a smaller one perched on top. These patio umbrellas give your deck the ambiance of restful style.

When buying a patio furniture umbrella make sure you know which kind you want. There are those umbrellas that use a crank to bring it up and down and there are those that employ the use of a peg that is on a chain. This peg needs to be inserted when the umbrella is up and removed when you want it to come down. There are some umbrellas that tilt in different directions in case the sun is low on the horizon and you do not want it in your eyes. There are even umbrellas that can be opened and closed with an automatic remote control.

More expensive umbrellas usually produced in wood. The post and ribs of the umbrella are made of wood. These umbrellas are very durable and they weigh the most. Most umbrellas have to be lifted in order to place them in the stand and if you cannot lift weight you probably should try to find a lighter umbrella.

You are in luck because aluminum umbrellas are lightweight. Aluminum umbrellas usually are made with the tilting mechanism to keep the sun at bay even in the evening. The nice thing about aluminum is that it does not rust and so your umbrella will last for several years.

There are just regular patio furniture umbrellas consisting of a pole up the middle, ribs, and one cover that do a great job in keep the sun off. There are also the offset patio umbrellas that have a little more space under the canopy. The pole goes up the side instead of the middle. You can use this type with the middle pole with tables that have a hole in the middle for you to insert the umbrella. But, if you do not have a table like that an offset umbrella is the type you need. You can place it next to the table and it will keep the sun off the table and out of the eyes of your guests. This type of umbrella can be moved around to protect someone in a chair on the patio as well because they are totally freestanding.

It is important to stick to a few rules when it comes to your patio furniture umbrella so that it will last for years to come. Never leave the umbrella open when you are not at home. You never know when either a rain or wind storm will pop up and wind really damages an outdoor umbrella. You may come home and wonder where it went because the wind blew it several miles away. Those people in snowy climates need to put their umbrellas away for the winter. Just put it out of the way in an upright position and cover it to keep dust and dirt off. Never lay it on the side and put anything on top of it because it will surely be ruined.

When spring comes take the umbrella out of storage and give it a wipe down with a damp cloth. If it needs a little more intense cleaning use some water and soap. Never use abrasive cleansers because it can scratch the canopy and posts. There are those canopies that are removable and washed in a washing machine. If you do not have a large capacity washer do not do this at home but go to the Laundromat. Another way to wash an umbrella is to put it up and rinse it off with a good hosing. Just be sure the water pressure is not so high it breaks the umbrella. Never dry the canopy in a drier.

Many stores carry patio furniture umbrellas. Look in the garden center or go to your local discount or department patio furniture umbrellas store. You can sometimes find them in places that sell only patio furniture or in regular furniture stores. Make sure to check online but be careful about the shipping costs. Some umbrellas are heavy and it is more worth it to get them locally than online. Never buy the cheapest one you can find. You will be disappointed in it and it might not look good enough to keep for next season.

Tags: gardening, landscaping