Sinking parasol mounting into the ground

[Chucklehead]

We have a large cantilever parasol with one of those weighted bases that covers each of the four legs. It has quite a large footprint (area and height), because it needs to live right next to the seating area for best coverage.

Actually, it'd ideally be back slightly from where it is now, on the slightly raised grass area beside the seating area.. which brings me to my question.

With the recent winds, one of the plastic covers was ripped off the base, exposing the sand inside. The base isn't made anymore, and most of the alternatives I'm seeing online don't seem as substantial as the one we have. So, with a view to redoing the grass this spring, I could dig a ruddy big hole and fill it with concrete and do away with the four legs and base altogether? i'd then make some kind of hub or mounting face/form for the parasol to attach to and recover the concrete with grass.

That'd get the base off my patio and also in a slightly more convenient position. Has anyone done similar and could give me an idea of the specs involved? how deep would i need to go? is diameter important? I've seen some ground screws and the like online which could possibly be an option, but I'm very much a do it once and do it right kind of person.

[Scarletpimpofnel]

I did exactly what you said. The base of mine had 4 legs with a centre upright pole, so I dug a hole and buried the 4 legged bit in concrete. About a foot of concrete (6" above/below the 4 legged based) is what I did (6" of soil and grass over the top of the concrete) and it's rock solid in all conditions. I don't have kids swinging on it though.

[Mr Pointy]

This site has a range of ground anchors so they are available:
https://shop.soleroparasols.co.uk/accessories.html

Or sink a scaffold pole.

[Chucklehead]

Mr Pointy said:

This site has a range of ground anchors so they are available:
https://shop.soleroparasols.co.uk/accessories.html

Or sink a scaffold pole.

very expensive for what they are, but yes, that was the kind of thing i was thinking about.

[alangla]

Could you use a similar sort of mounting as is normally used for a rotary washing line? The one I’ve got was a kind of finned arrow thing with a hollow tube in the middle that got driven into the ground with a mallet.

[Chucklehead]

that's the kind of thing i was thinking, but on a larger scale. The parasol is huge and i'd have thought 50cm wasnt enough depth for a gigantic 8m2 sail on a mildly breezy day.. or worse, the winds we've just had even when it is all folded up and in its cover.

There must be huge strain on an overhanging cantilever when it's open, and that won't be spread across the large flat base it has today.