Short answer: pack the garden furniture tightly in a Bag'in with every drawstring tightened and the zip locked, and anchor the bag to the deck with Storm Anchor. Two anchors on the windward side often hold, and on exposed spots you use every anchor point. Take down the parasol and bring the cushions in before the storm arrives.

Packed furniture handles bad weather well. What the wind grabs is anything loose: a flapping tarpaulin, a parasol left up, or a cover that is not fastened to the ground. Here is how to secure everything before the next weather warning.

Also read the complete guide to storing garden furniture over winter.

How much wind can garden furniture take?

From gale force upwards, everything on the patio should be packed and fastened.

Wind m/s mph What happens on the patio
Near gale (Beaufort 7) 13.9 to 17.1 32 to 38 Loose cushions, parasols and light chairs move
Gale (Beaufort 8) 17.2 to 20.7 39 to 46 Unpacked furniture tips over, tarpaulins tear loose
Strong gale and storm (Beaufort 9 to 10) 20.8 to 28.4 47 to 63 Whole lounge sets can move if they are not fastened
Hurricane force (Beaufort 12) 32.7 and above 73 and above Anything that is not anchored is at risk

Gusts are often much stronger than the average wind in the forecast, and it is the gusts that move furniture. So look at the gust figures, not just the average.

Checklist before the storm

Go through this when a weather warning comes, or before you pack the furniture away for winter. It takes 10 minutes.

  1. Take down the parasol. A parasol left up is a sail. Roll it tightly and bring it in. The base can stay.
  2. Bring in cushions and loose textiles. They are the first things to fly.
  3. Pack the furniture tight and low. Heavy pieces at the bottom, light ones on top, and keep the height around 90 cm. A low, tight pack gives the wind less to grab.
  4. Tighten every drawstring. The drawstrings in the middle and at the base pull Bag'in in around the furniture, so the fabric does not flap.
  5. Lock the zip with the carabiner. It keeps the zip closed in strong wind.
  6. Anchor to the ground. On decking, use Storm Anchor, see below.

How to anchor with Storm Anchor

Storm Anchor fixes into the gap between two deck boards, without drilling. It fits a 5 mm gap and boards up to 32 mm thick. The anchor connects to Bag'in with a cord and carabiner.

Bag'in Nordic Anchor points Recommended
X-Small, Small, Medium and Large 4 2 on the windward side often hold. Use all 4 on exposed spots.
X-Large 6 At least 4. Use all 6 on exposed spots.

Place the anchors on the side the wind usually comes from, so they take the pull first. The anchors can stay in the deck all season, and you clip the bag on and off with the carabiner. When Nordic is packed away, you can use the same anchors to hold other things in place through spring, summer and autumn.

Storm Anchor fixed between deck boards, with the cord that holds Bag'in in place

Find more ways to use the anchor in seven smart ways to use Storm Anchor.

Where on the patio should the furniture stand?

Placement does a lot of the work.

  • In the lee of the house wall, on the side facing away from where bad weather usually comes from.
  • At least 20 cm from walls and fences, so air circulates and the fabric does not rub against the wall.
  • Not under trees with dead branches. Falling branches do the damage.
  • Not right at the edge of a raised deck or balcony, where the wind is strongest.

We recommend storing the furniture on a ventilated surface, such as a wooden deck. The base gets air there, and that is where Storm Anchor fits.

After the storm

Want to see how it holds up in practice? Read how Bag'in stood steady in a hurricane on Norway's west coast.

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop garden furniture blowing away?

Pack it tight and low in a Bag'in, tighten every drawstring, lock the zip and anchor the bag to the deck with Storm Anchor.

Do I have to drill into the deck to fit Storm Anchor?

No. The anchor fixes into the gap between the deck boards, without drilling.

How many anchors do I need?

X-Small to Large have four anchor points, and two anchors on the windward side often hold. X-Large has six. On exposed spots, use every anchor point.

Will Storm Anchor fit my deck?

It fits a 5 mm gap and deck boards up to 32 mm thick.

Can I use a tarpaulin and rope instead?

As a short-term emergency. A tarpaulin flaps in the wind and rubs against the furniture. Read tarpaulin or Bag'in: what protects garden furniture best.

Should the parasol stay up in a storm?

No. Take it down and bring it in before the bad weather. The base can stay outside.