The Best Seasonal Garden Flags

Buying Guide

Seasons come and go, especially if you live in the same house for a while. If you enjoy celebrating the seasons by decorating your house and lawn, a garden flag can be a great way to liven up your home without much work.

Seasonal garden flags are designed to celebrate each season. You’ll usually get a pack of at least 10 flags, each geared toward a specific time of year. Often these reflect major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and Easter, but you’ll also see flags honoring moms and dads for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Some packs even include special flags to greet guests or welcome someone home after an absence.

One thing to keep in mind as you shop is that most of the time, your flag purchase won’t include the actual pole you need to set the flag up. You can easily buy a garden flag stand, though, which is designed to be pushed into the ground somewhere in your yard or garden. For best results, wet the ground where you’re installing the flag. This will allow the stand to easily sink into the soil.

Polyester is the most popular fabric for garden flags. There’s a reason for that. Polyester has the ability to handle rain and direct sunlight without showing signs of wear the way other materials would. That said, unfortunately, you’ll still see some weathering over time. If you can find a spot that has at least partial shade, you may be able to extend the life of your flag.

Of course, even with all these other considerations, placement of the flag is largely going to depend on where it looks best. You may want to set it up at the entry to your porch, enhancing it with other design choices. Some set up garden flags next to the mailbox, by the patio, beside the pool or, yes, in an actual garden. In that respect, placement depends on where you’ll enjoy it most.

• In most cases, your flag won’t come with a flag stand. Make sure the flag has an opening that is large enough to slide the garden stand through it.
• As you work hard to find the perfect place for your flag, consider the vegetation around it. If you have flowers or plants, the shade cast by the flag could block the sunlight they need to thrive. It could also block sunlight to the grass surrounding it.
• Even a high-quality flag will struggle to withstand severe windstorms. Anti-wind clips can help anchor your flag so that it doesn’t move around when the wind is blowing. Some flag sets come with those as a bonus item.
• If you know severe weather is coming, one of the best things you can do is remove the flag until the storm has passed.
• You probably won’t want to buy a new set of flags every year. Look for a flag that is machine washable so that you can wash it, hang it to dry, then fold it up and store it until next year. Store flags individually in zippered plastic bags, then place them in a cool, dark, dry place until you need them again.
• In most cases, your flag will have a design printed on both sides. Make sure the quality of the print on both sides of the flag is top-notch.
• High-quality flags have three layers to ensure that the cloth isn’t transparent. You won’t want the design on the other side of the flag to bleed through when viewing it.
• Stands will range in height from 3 feet to 6 feet. The height that works best for you will depend on the elevation and visibility of the area where you’re placing it. Measure the spot to ensure you’ll purchase a stand that gives you the look you want.