Three shades for a hot day

Every garden needs a cool retreat for respite when the sun gets hot. A good garden design provides shade appropriate for different activities by designing the activities themselves, the house, trees and garden structures to create shade at the right place and time.

But that is just one part of the solution. The other is the kind and quality of shade you create. Different shading solutions give different results. The coolest shade remains the good old shade tree. Unlike artificial shades which trap hot air underneath, trees are designed by nature to allow hot air to escape. In fact, trees go further to actively cool the space beneath their canopy through the process of evapotranspiration.

However, many times, having a shade tree in our tiny urban gardens might not be practical. You may also not have the luxury of time to wait for a shade tree to grow and provide shade over your deck or patio.

Fortunately, there are lots of shading solutions you can create or buy off the shelf. The key is to get something that goes with your garden and architectural style.

Pergolas

Building a pergola over a part of your backyard is an instant shade fix. A pergola can be free-standing or attached to the house and are typically built from timber, steel or aluminium. Timber is the cheapest alternative but it has limitations and maintenance issues. The other two offer a wider variety of colour and durability but will cost you more to put up.

The design of the pergola must include your preferred covering. If you prefer a weather proof cover, you have to ensure that the sides of the pergola are as open as possible to allow for cross-ventilation. Alternatively, if your pergola cannot vent easily, you can use a shade cloth cover or makuti which provide very pleasant shade and vent better than other solid covers.

If the rain is not a problem, fast-growing deciduous vines are a good choice but will take a year or two to give a good cover. They also require an extra-strong pergola to withstand the weight of heavy climbers such as Thunbergia or the English ivy.

Sail shades

If you prefer something a little less structural, you should consider sail shades. With clever design and overlapping, they create good shade and don’t build up too much heat underneath as they are always angled so that they spill out rainwater. They usually need several anchor points at different heights such as the house and some heavy-duty, angled steel poles so the sails are properly tensioned.

Sail shades suit a modern style home or garden where they also function as art or sculptural pieces. They are a little expensive since most are imported but are fast gaining popularity as local suppliers increase.

Parasols

Parasols also offer a good shading alternative for small groups. They never go out of style and produce an instant resort feel. They come in very many styles but durability and convenience of use should be taken into account when selecting a style.

Many paraols are bought complete with a base to stand on. But other unique types require the installation of in-ground sleeves and sockets for mounting. The cantilevered or side-mounted types can be adjusted depending on the angle of the sun. Still others are wall-mounted and leave the entire space underneath open for your furniture.