How to Shade Leaves
There are times that you need to create some shade for your plants. Sometimes you have a situation where a large tree was removed and plants designed for the shade are receiving too much sun and are struggling. Alternatively, you may have a sunny garden and prefer to grow plants designed for the shade. Or, you may have a temporary situation where a plant needs shade for several days to recover from division or some other trauma. The best method will depend on how large an area needs to be shaded, how quickly you need to create shade, your budget and the aesthetic requirements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Determine how quickly you need shade. If you cannot wait for a tree to grow, you can build a pergola. It is a beautiful addition to a garden and provides filtered shade for plants underneath it. You can grow a vine at each of the four corners that will eventually reach the top of the structure and create even more shade.
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Use shade cloth. Agricultural shade cloth with various percentages of shade filtering is readily available. It is light, flexible and easy to work with. It can be assembled in a temporary or permanent manner depending on your requirements. Simply attach it to four posts (creating a pitch by altering two parallel post heights) or a hoop structure. You can also create an elaborate shade house to withstand long-term weather conditions.
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Grow a tree. If you do not have an immediate need for shade or can use temporary measures until a tree reaches a shade-producing size, many fast-growing tree options are available. Some small tree choices are dogwood (Cornus kousa), redbud (Cercis canadensis) and golden locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). For a large tree, consider thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia), oak (Quercus) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica). You can also choose large shrubs that you can prune and train into a small tree, such as serviceberry (Amelanchier), crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia fauriei) or seven-son tree (Heptacodium miconioides). The amount of shade produced will vary among the different species.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not choose trees with shallow roots that compete for water and nutrients such as maples and willows.
Not all of the listed trees are appropriate for all parts of the country or for all growing conditions. Check with a local reputable garden center to find the best trees for your location.
Shade cloth structures need to be constructed properly to withstand wind and hail. Check with the manufacturer for best construction techniques.
References
- University of Minnesota; Building Overhead Structures, Pergolas and Arbors; Joanie Somerville, et als; 2006
- Alnet Protect-o-net: Uses for Alnet Agricultural Shade Cloth;
- Washington State University Clark County Extension;Chapter 6: Shade Requirements for Ginsing
- North Dakota State University Extension Service; Selecting Shade Trees; 1995
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
