How to Add Shade to a Patio

Add shade to your patio with vines. Many are easy-care and add foliage and blooms to the patio to create a natural effect. Deciduous choices such as wisteria and trumpet vine lose their leaves to allow more light during the winter. Other vines, including passion flower and ivy. keep their leaves year-round. Most require only minor pruning, fertilizer and watering to provide years of shade. Start with well-established plants to grow you own shade solution as fast as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Locking measuring tape
• Notepad
• Pen
• Tall vines
• Shovel
• Mulch
• Ladder
• Reed fencing
• Shade cloth
• Staple gun
• Potted plants (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the patio's length and width. To do this solo, extend the tape to the length of the patio from one side to the other. Lock the tape and walk over to line up the tape's tip with the outside edge of the patio structure. Measure the width. Make a note of the measurements.

2. Decide whether you want green vines or flowering vines and whether you prefer leaves year-round. The advantage to deciduous plants is that when they lose their leaves the winter sunlight can help reduce winter heating costs. Also, your home remains more visible during the winter. This can be an energy saving and security advantage for the home, though it involves sweeping up the fallen leaves.

3. Shop for the largest vines your budget allows. This will give a quick start to your shade project. Check your measurements and get some shade cloth or a roll or two of reed fence to shade the patio until the plants grow enough to cover the patio.

4. Plant the vines around the patio. Break the soil up well for at least a foot deeper than the size of the root ball. Place one vine at each corner for a small patio. For a larger patio, put in at least three along each side. They will spread as they grow. Add mulch over the roots to protect them from heat.

5. Add the shade cloth or reed fence to the patio roof. Spread the cloth or fence and weight it down with potted plants or use a staple gun to hold it in place. You can add more to the sunny sides of the structure if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Hanging plants increase the shade in the patio.

• Use portable screens to block the sun in the patio during the hottest part of the day.

References

• Colorado State University Extension: Vines
• University of Missouri Extension: Ornamental Vines
• Backyardcity: Shade-Cloth

Resources

• That Covers It: Patio Shade Canopies