No patio in San Diego is complete without an outdoor umbrella. To fully enjoy those beautiful sunny days in your backyard, you’ll want a shady spot to recline and cool off, too. This outdoor umbrella buyer’s guide will help you decide which kind of umbrella is right for your space.

Photography by Marissa Anderson

Types of Outdoor Umbrellas

When deciding which type of outdoor umbrella to buy, you’ll want to consider where you’re putting it and how much you’d like to be able to adjust the shade. Here are the main kinds of outdoor umbrellas.

Table Umbrella: Many patio tables come with a 1.75” hole in the center where you can insert an outdoor umbrella. Table umbrellas typically come with a straight pole. The table provides some support for the umbrella, so it does not require as heavy a base as its free-standing counterpart.
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Deciding which kind of BBQ grill to purchase is an important decision. When looking at different models, you’ll notice there are three main types: charcoal, propane, natural gas grills. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between these three types of fuel sources when you’re shopping for a grill.

Now we’re cooking! Here you have hamburger patties cooking on a charcoal barbecue grill. Let’s get down to the bottom of this and figure out what type of grill is the best. Photography by Valters Krontals.

Charcoal vs Propane vs Natural Gas BBQ Grills

Charcoal, propane, and natural gas are the most common types of home BBQ grills. Here’s a basic overview of what they are and how they work.

How charcoal, propane, and natural gas grills work:

• Charcoal – Charcoal grills are the most traditional type of grill. They come in all sizes and shapes, but they all cook food by burning charcoal underneath the grill grate.
• Propane – This type of grill runs on propane, which ignites the flames underneath the BBQ grates. You’ll need to purchase a separate tank of propane to attach to the unit.
• Natural gas – These grills cook food in the same way as propane ones—over a flame fueled by gas. However, rather than running off a tank of gas, a natural gas grill is connected to the gas line of your home.

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While San Diego is known for its incredible weather, the long periods of sunshine and no rain are not always good news for your plants. Landscaping in southern California requires drought-tolerant plants that can survive the dry seasons. Growing plants that fit into the area’s local biome has many benefits. They spruce up your lawn, can make your patio eco-friendly, and overall require less upkeep. Here are some hardy, low maintenance plants that can thrive in San Diego weather.

1.) Mexican Fencepost Cactus (Pachycereus marginatus)

Mexican fencepost cactus photo by Chhe

Cacti are the ultimate low maintenance plant. Designed to retain water through long dry spells, these desert plants require little water. The Mexican fencepost cactus can withstand full sun and cold weather down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, making it plenty hardy for San Diego winters. They grow tall and thin; in spring, they sprout stunning blooms.
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An important part of going green is ensuring you have an eco-friendly patio. Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to make your outdoor space more environmentally sustainable. Whether you’re looking to make small updates or you’re buying new patio furniture, we’ve got 9 tips for making your patio eco-friendly.

Photo credit: Field Outdoor Spaces under Creative Commons license.