We take umbrellas for granted as handy accessories to protect us from the rain (especially in the UK), but when we're not in a rush to find one in a bag or blame ourselves for forgetting one, we rarely think of them.

There are actually other uses for umbrellas that you might not expect, making umbrellas a more important part of our lives, not just an afterthought we only think of when it starts to rain.

If you have an old umbrella, why not use it to decorate your garden. Put an umbrella on the ground that opens up and fill with soil, preferably the type that drains well and doesn't tend to form puddles or standing water. Plant annual flower varieties that don't require many deep roots in soil, such as sedum, petunia, geranium, marigold, or begonia, and wait for them to bloom.

Umbrella garden pots are great for those with less outdoor space or those who temporarily live somewhere because they're easy to set up and take away and don't require a garden bed. Using brightly colored umbrellas that complement the shades of flowers is a quick and inexpensive way to create a beautiful and vibrant garden.

Buy it for life umbrella at golf umbrella manufacturers.