10 Ways To Create More Shade In Your Garden

You should be able to go outside and enjoy your garden. However, during the blistering summer months, it can get quite uncomfortable and hot. Staying inside may feel nicer but that means all of your outdoor space is going unused. Instead of suffering in the heat, here are ten great ways to create more shade in your garden.

1. Add A Pergola

Consider getting the best diy pergola to add to your yard. It’s a simple solution that helps your garden feel a few degrees cooler. If you add a pergola close to a window, then you’re helping your indoors stay cool as well.

Pergolas are pretty multi-purpose, depending on your interests. You can place a few hammocks to lounge around in the sun, add a nice breakfast table and some chairs, or add some grow plants to the posts to create an even more romantic atmosphere.

There are plenty of DIT pergola kits to choose from if you want a particular style that matches your home. Just be sure that you read the instructions carefully and have all of the tools that you need to put it together.

2. Develop An Outdoor Room

You can easily create an external room in your home by adding a permanent roof structure that extends over the area to shelter you from the elements. It could be a neat space where you cook outside, especially if you love grilling. Cooking outdoors also reduces the heat inside your home, helping it to remain much cooler.

3. Planting A Tree

This is one of the most time-honored ways of dropping the temperature in your garden. Before you can just plant any tree, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. First, you want to take into account the kind of environmental conditions you live in. There’s no point in adding a tropical plant if you live in the northernmost part of the country. Secondly, you don’t want to plant a tree too close to your home as the roots can damage the foundation and the tree branches can damage your roof.

4. Taking The Seasons Into Account

Before you consider adding shade to your garden, you should first consider how you use it on a seasonal basis. Do you spend a lot of time out there during the summer? Do you prefer more natural sunlight during the winter? Taking these considerations into account will help you find the best solution that gives you everything you need. Pay attention to where the light is during the summer months so that you can plan accordingly. If you want the best of both worlds, you might want to consider getting a deciduous tree that provides you with shade in the summer and loses its leaves in the fall so that you can have some sunlight during winter.

5. Consider A Shade Arbor

One way to add some shade to your garden is to add an arbor. It can be a bit high-maintenance, but it can add a lot of beauty to your green space. You can get some fragrant flowers like wisteria and honeysuckle to attract the bees to your garden and provide them with a good meal. Arbors are not only beautiful, but they are also functional, so make sure you place them in an area that will provide you with some privacy.

6. Add A Patio Awning

A patio awning is a great way to provide some shade outside and to shield your indoors from the sun so that it stays cool. This can, in turn, reduce the amount of air conditioning your home uses to keep the interior cool. There are many different models out there for you to choose from, but the least expensive models are the ones that are hand-cranked with folding frames. However, you get what you pay for, so don’t be afraid to consider pricier models that are still within your budget.

7. Grow Your Yard In Layers

Planting trees in your yard will provide you with a lot of shade, but most plants require quite a bit of sun to thrive. Plan your garden from the ground up and consider shade-loving plants that will grow well under the shade of a tree. This will help you to add pleasing aesthetics and variety in your garden that will show off how much time you spend enjoying your yard.

8. Build A Gazebo

A gazebo is definitely something of a more permanent structure in your yard and can take up a lot of space. But if you have a lot of acreage in your backyard, then there’s nothing wrong with adding one. They add a nice romantic flair, provide you with a lot of shade, and can be used for any kind of outdoor activity, such as having tea or entertaining guests. If your yard experiences a lot of wind, consider adding slats to your gazebo to break it up so that you don’t feel like you’re in a hurricane.

9. Plan For The Sun

Instead of planning your garden based on colors and what plants you want to have, pay attention to the sun instead. This will provide you with all of the information you need to consider the right types of shade, which plans will work best in which areas of your yard, and how much time you really want to spend outside. You may not even need to make any additions to your yard if you already have existing shade. Just work around it so that you don’t have to put in too much effort to create a pleasing outdoor space.

10.  Plan For Success

Keep in mind that your garden may change over time, so you may want to choose elements that are going to adapt to those changes. If you plant a fast-growing tree to provide you with some shade, then you will have shade in a short amount of time, but you may have to do a lot of pruning in the meantime to keep the branches away from your house.

If you’re looking for other ways to add shade to your garden, consider speaking to a landscaping professional to provide you with a few other choices that fit your criteria.