Banana Cantilever Parasols - What you need to know and how to fit yours

Cantilever (otherwise known as banana) parasols are a great solution for avoiding the midday sun (or drizzle), read on to find out more about this great garden shade solutions

Cantilever Parasol fitted to the wall

Cantilever parasols are a fantastic way of providing easy shade in your garden. They can be tilted and swung around to follow the sun in a moment and are very compact when folded down and not being used.

Most proved a large amount of cover so you can easily shade a table full of your guests, a hot tub, decking or patio. They are also perfect for shading the paddling pool so the kids don't get toasted!

Cantilever parasols can be secured in a number of ways, the cheapest is to get hold of some slabs and place them on the four bars of your base unit. These should provide a secure grounding.

Parasol base screwed into the wall

If this doesn't quite go with the elegant look you were after though you can purchase granite bases which give a nice neat finish. Both of these solutions will make it hard to move your cantilever parasol around so if you feel that your going to be carting it up and down the garden I'd recommend buying a base that comes with wheels. They cost a bit more but will save your back and those chiropractor fees!

If you are not planning on moving your base around a great alternative is to concrete a pole into the ground and just drop the cantilever parasol pole straight into it. This means you wont have a base unit taking up space in smaller areas and it will be much more stable.

Misty doesn't need a cantilever parasol!

If you are planning on using your cantilever parasol on a patio you can of course screw the base into place or better still, fix the base under the slabs. That way you wont have the base fixing on top of the patio taking up space they will be neatly tucked away under your paving and look very smart.

I have also been asked about how to secure a cantilever parasol to decking. Rather than screwing it directly to your deck which may put strain on the wood, create a fixing base with a deck-mount. Alternatively, if your deck isn't fitted yet just fix it to the ground and cut your deck around the pole.


Once you have your cantilever parasol fitted you will be able to enjoy many hours of wonderful British sunshine with the barbecue (did I mention you can shelter from drizzle as well?!). Once the summer is over don't forget to get yourself a good quality parasol cover that will protect not just the canopy but your entire winding mechanism and go right down to your base

Enjoy your summer, Laura