Whether you want to add a bit of shade to your garden during sunbathing weather (if you’re lucky enough to get it), or you’re having a garden party and want somewhere outdoors to shelter the presents and food, a gazebo is a perfect option.

However, as we all well know, the British weather can be unpredictable, and more often than not, tends not to be on our side. Constant sunshine isn’t something we’re exactly renowned for.

So, what do you do when the wind picks up? The last thing you’ll want happening at a birthday party is the gazebo blowing apart in the strong winds.

Luckily, this can be prevented, so if it’s given strong winds on an inconvenient date, don’t lose hope just yet. Gazebos can be stabilised, you just need to ensure that you’ve got the correct tools.

The tools and methods that you’ll need to use will depend on where you are setting up the gazebo but do not worry because I’ll go into further detail about all of that throughout this article.

One last thing before we really begin, that you’ll need to consider is that the best wind resistance begins with an appropriate set-up.

Before you begin, really evaluate the area you intend to set up the gazebo and do a test run before the big day to see if it’s the best place for it to be placed.

Secure The Gazebo

A gazebo is a great addition to any garden, but to really be able to withstand the elements it needs to be secured well.

To give your gazebo any fighting chance of being secured effectively, you need to make sure that you are assembling it correctly.

If you’ve done any research on securing your gazebo already, you’ve probably come across several different methods including ropes, straps, threaded rods, weights and sandbags, and anchoring.

Which method you choose will depend on how your gazebo is set up. For example, if you’re gazebo is on concrete, you’re probably not going to want to drill through to secure it, so you’ll be better off choosing sandbags and weights.

If you can’t get your hands on this option, you can always opt to use straps if you’re able to connect the hooks to the ground.

You’ll have a few more options if you’re setting up on grass. You can choose between threaded rods, ropes, or anchor kits.

Whichever option you choose it is vital that rods, anchors, and stakes are all firmly lodged into the ground, this is because it’ll give you more surface grip.

If your gazebo is alongside other pavilions, you could always anchor onto these. However if you’re going to do this I would recommend also using weights and sandbags just to give it that extra security.

Maximum Wind Security Comes From A Proper Set-Up

While anchoring your gazebo is really important, if it hasn’t been set up correctly it doesn’t matter how well it’s anchored, it won’t withstand the wind. So you need to ensure that it is solid.

If you’re getting a professional to install it, you can rest easy knowing that they will consider all the important factors for you.

However, most people tend not to call out the professional for this job, so if you are giving it a go yourself before you get lost in your instruction manual and begin the process, you’ll need to ask yourself a couple of questions:

• Is the ground level?

• What type of ground are you going to install it on?

• Have you purchased a hard or soft-topped gazebo?

Is The Ground Level

You need to consider this because an uneven structure will not be stable. You shouldn’t really install a gazebo on unlevel ground. Unfortunately, there are only really two options here if the ground isn’t level.

First of all, you could try and pick a new setup spot. If there is somewhere else in your garden that is level, I would move it to there as that really is your easiest option.

Otherwise, you’re going to have to try and level out the ground yourself. This can take a lot of effort and be quite difficult. If the ground is concrete, it’s likely that you won’t really be able to level out the ground which will leave you with a less stable structure that will be more likely to blow apart in the wind.

Type Of Ground

You need to consider the ground when you install.

Grass

If you install on a patch of grass, you need to keep in mind that soil may shift over time. If the soil becomes too loose, it will struggle to keep the posts secure and they may move or shift.

If you have a relatively level garden, I would suggest changing the location of the gazebo for each installation if it is a temporary fixture in the garden.

Concrete

Concrete is structurally more sound than grass, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come with its own set of limitations. Concrete takes a while to set if it is also being installed with the gazebo.

If it’s preexisting, then you may not have the holds for anchoring, which limits how you can secure the gazebo.

If the ground is unlevel you may need to level out your ground before you can install a gazebo or it won’t be structurally sound.

Hard Vs Soft Top

If you’re choosing a temporary gazebo, which are popular due to their quick setup, then you’ll most likely have a soft-topped gazebo. Hardtop gazebos tend to be more permanent fixtures.

Temporary gazebos are more likely to be affected by the wind, so you really want to make sure that you follow the directions and instructions exactly to ensure it will be structurally sound.

Final Thoughts

So can gazebos withstand the wind? It really depends. And while anchoring is the best method for trying to combat the wind, even anchoring it won’t stop Gail Force blows, especially if the gazebo has not been set up correctly.

My advice would be to try and use more than one method of anchoring if possible to ensure that it is as stable as possible, while also really taking the time to follow the instructions for setup.

Do not skip past a single step, as tempting as it can be to just try and piece it together yourself.