The Perfect Banana Parasol Cover for British Weather

If you are planning special outdoor events such as weddings, hot tub parties or a summer BBQ, then a large banana parasol can often be the perfect protection from the weather. Parasols can be a savior to an event as they protect the guests from unpredictable British weather conditions from drizzle to excess sunshine. However, it is also important to protect your parasol when your parasol isn’t in use. As most of you know, British weather can be very changeable, in the morning it may be pelting it down with rain only to be bright and sunny by the afternoon. To ensure your banana parasol is protected from this unreliable weather, it is important to get a high quality specialist banana parasol cover to prevent long-term damage. Speedwellstar’s Large Banana Parasol Covers are the perfect accompaniment to protect your banana parasol from all weathers. Please read on for more information on how parasol covers can protect your parasol

Found this little guy in the warehouse!

Mold and rain

Even if you store your parasols inside over winter, you are guaranteed to be caught out in the summer months when suddenly a weeks-long heatwave turns into torrential downpour. To prevent damage to your parasol, it is important that your parasol cover is breathable and water resistant. This will ensure your parasol won’t stay damp when condensation forms preventing mold

Heat and high UV rays

Rain is not the only problem when protecting your parasol, UV rays can also have significant damaging effects in the height of summer. Speedwellstar’s Banana Parasol Covers prevent UV damage by using a aluminised silver coating to protect from UV, preventing discoloration and disintegration, prolonging the life of your parasol.

Other factors

Lastly, it is important to ensure you have strong, tear resistant material to prevent snags from trees or transportation. Speedwellstar's Banana Parasol is made of the Oxford 150 Denier. This tough material is often used for boat, caravan and car coverings so it is a proven high quality material.

What sort of parasol is right for your garden?

Why do you need a cantilever parasol rather than a regular brolly? I have the answers so keep reading

Regular brollys are so useful, you can chuck them in the boot for a picnic, stick them in the sand on the beach and generally grab them at a moments notice. All useful but for the annoying fact that when your brolly is over your garden table you end up peering around the pole to talk to your friend on the other side, food can't be placed in the middle of the table, and you end up passing items around it again and again.

So what to do? It's time to take a look at a cantilever (also known as banana) parasol. These parasols are off set meaning that the pole is to the side and the huge canopy can hang over a table causing absolutely no obstructions. Handy eh?

Cantilever Parasol

Cantilever parasols can look precarious, well I guess they are if you don't secure them! Securing them is straight forward and actually if you are in a sheltered area not much effort is required on your part. Heavy slabs can be used to hold the base down, or the whole base can be fitted into the actual patio slabs. Alternatively you can screw the base to the ground or bury a pole to drop the parasol pole into. 

The design of a cantilever parasol means that the canopy can be very large and easily moved around to follow the sun, just swing the arm into position, they even tilt. This means that you have a very large shade on hand and in place at anytime of the day and a quick gust of wind is not going to send it sailing over the fence into the neighbours garden.

I think for me though the best reason to get a cantilever parasol is that they just look fantastic. As soon as I put mine up my garden is transformed into a swish terrace that reminds me of past holidays in far away lands.

Don't forget to get a parasol cover for it. The winter months and even harsh summer sun could take its toll so slide a cover over the parasol to keep it in tip top condition all year round.

Happy summer, Laura

Is it time for Britain to Embrace Parasol Covers?

They are all over the place in sunnier climes, and banana parasols are a feature of holiday destinations around the world. In Europe, Asia and beyond, there’s an outdoor dining and cafe culture which we have only recently begun to embrace here. Now we are all becoming acclimatised to the idea of outdoor living and are introducing patio and dining furniture along with greenhouses and conservatories. However, with the introduction of outdoor furniture we need to consider how to protect it and that’s where parasol covers can keep your parasol on tip top condition

We have always enjoyed long days during the summer but as temperatures rise we are all starting to realise the full potential of our gardens. Combine that with some beautiful sunny weather and it’s only natural that the next logical step has been to create useful outdoor rooms

Tables, chairs and even coffee tables and settees have become de rigueur in gardens and back yards the length and breadth of the UK. We’ve learned to embrace good weather and move outdoors whenever we can. Parasols, awnings and gazebos provide shade from the sun and protection from rain showers.

So committed are we as a nation to this new form of outdoor living and entertaining that we have adopted the barbecue with huge enthusiasm. Slowly but surely, the British are becoming more continental

And then, like the bad fairy at a princess’s christening, the Great British Weather does its worst!

This is when parasol covers and dedicated storage areas for soft furnishings really come into their own. Prolonged periods of bad weather could quickly spell disaster for expensive garden furniture. Parasol covers are such a simple and cheap solution to a perennial problem that it seems astonishing that so many people simply don’t bother.

Banana parasols are an expensive purchase but can be maintained in peak condition for years if cared for appropriately. A full length cover taking in all of your parasol and going right down to the floor to cover all the frame work really will keep your cantilever parasol like new. Then you can savor that first time you remove your cover in spring on a lovely warm day looking forward to the long summer days ahead (and knowing you wont need to contend with the creepy crawlies that normally hide in the parasol)

Lola & Benson cool off after a dip in a very muddy stream near the office

Why not have a look at our huge range of useful and practical covers, including many parasol covers? From boats to mobility scooters, we stock a huge range of practical and inexpensive methods of protecting your possessions from the vagaries of the British weather

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