But, if you’re someone who loves to spend time outside, especially in the garden of your own, there’s a good chance you’re in need of some shade. You want to be outside, but you want to be cool, and remove any chances of heatstroke in the near future… You want to get down on your knees in the mud and weed and plant to your heart’s content, and sometimes a sun hat just doesn’t cut it!
So, in the interest of giving your garden some areas of cool shade and calm air, you’re going to need to make some changes to the garden you have outside of your house. After all, the more you can cover up certain sections of your yard and lawn, the better suited your garden will be to all kinds of weather. And without further ado, here are some ideas to get started with.
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Weave Your Trees Together
If you’ve got some large trees, or otherwise tall plants or shrubs growing in your garden, why not use them as a natural canopy to block out some of the most overbearing of the sun’s rays? Nature often presents the best solutions to our problems, and it’ll definitely be cheaper than buying a canvas to cover the walkway between your back door and the garden itself. Not to mention how less of a flimsy solution it’ll be compared to a gazebo! All you need to get started in this area is a number of hardy trees that are already used to the soil and sunlight in your yard. You’ll also want to be well-equipped with information on How to prepare your trees for healthy spring growth to ensure that your trees are getting the best care and can thrive as they work to create for you a patch of shaded solace.
Don’t worry, weaving your plant stems and tree branches together isn’t as hard as it sounds, and you’re not the first person to do so. If you don’t have trees that are growing naturally close together, which pretty much act as a canopy basis that you’d just have to strengthen, you can take some cuttings here and there and bridge the gap. Likewise, if your trees are just a little too close together, you can call a Tree Trimming service to help cut them into shape and get you started.
And if you’re interested in building a living shade structure, you can find a very nifty tutorial right here. Follow the steps for a DIY project that’s both practical and something to be very proud of. Once you’re done, and you’re sweating buckets because of the manual labour you’ve just been through, you can step inside to cool off a little!
Build a Little Roof Over the Patio
If you’ve got a patio in your garden, you’ve got some prime real estate on your hands for building what could be a whole new part of your house – you can put a roof over the top, and rest in some solid, cooling shade when you’re done with the work. And for the less than handy of us out there, don’t worry, there’s plenty of flyover roof patios services out there you can rely on!
You can connect this roof out from the side of your own house, or you can build some strong, tall supports around the edges of the patio you have and rest it on those. You could even go one step further and invest in a custom-built pavilion or pergola. A roof connected to your home, pavilion, or pergola can have a slatted roof, with the wood beams intersecting each other, or a full roof to shade you from the weather, whether that be sun, wind, or rain. Of course, with slats, you’re still going to be letting the sun in, and if you’re vehemently against sun exposure whilst sipping your iced tea, this isn’t quite the design for you.
And if you’re on a very strict budget, and only need a roof for a couple days that you’re holding a garden party, a dark sheet stretched out over your patio will work a treat!
Air Out the Shed/Conservatory
The shed in your garden, or the conservatory leading to it, can become very hot places. They’re usually designed to trap the heat in, and in the colder weather, they do exactly the same thing! After all, we don’t usually stretch our house’s insulation to cover the back garden as well…
So, during these sunny, humid months of the year, make sure you’re airing out any of those structures that receive direct sunlight whenever it’s overhead. Open the doors, and the windows if you can, and even think about putting a fan either fixed to the ceiling or in the corner. When you’ve had enough of the sun for the time being, being able to retreat into a covered shelter with a direct cooling source will do you a world of good.
Create a Water Source
And finally, staying cool often requires hydration. During the summer, you’re going to be necking quite a few bottles/glasses of water, and the same goes for any animals or critters you have out in the garden. Why not do all of the living creatures in the vicinity a favour and build a little water source to rely on? Even just watering the plants more often than usual will go a long way to maintaining a healthy, cool garden.
You can easily scoop out space for a little pond, or order a water butt to store any rain water (when it comes!) that hits your garden. The air is always cooler around a bit of water, and if you’re outside a lot, you’re definitely going to benefit from having even just a still source nearby. Hey, maybe you could go the whole way and create a little stream system of your own!
The summer is all about getting out in the garden and making the most of the good weather. You’re doing your bit for the environment, as well as cultivating a little slice of the best nature has to offer all for yourself! Just make sure you’re not overdoing it out in the heat, and that you’ve got plenty of shade on offer – it’s important to section out your garden in a way to maintain good health.
This is a collaborative post.
