Here is a helpful guide to inexpensive solutions for creating shade for your patio or deck, from reasonable canopies, shade ideas, imaginative ways to create shade, and using plants and natural resources for shade. Keep your patio cooler, block out those harmful rays, and enjoy it all day long!
PORTABLE SHADE CANOPY
There is a huge selection of cheaper patio and deck shade options available, canopies, tents, gazebos and shades are available from home centres and in online stores. Portable shade canopies or gazebos are an extremely inexpensive idea, prices will start at around $100 and rise to $1000. They are really tents with 4 posts holding it up. They do not take long to set up, they can be moved easily and they are fully waterproof. There are 1000’s of styles available these days, so easily possible to find a style to suit your tastes. In the winter, these portable canopies can be packed away very quickly and stored.
TREES AND PLANTS
A way of keeping your garden looking as natural as possible is to use large plants or trees as shade. Large plant pots with trees and large plants will look very trendy and bring some nature to your patio or deck. Evergreen will be best as they will provide shade all year round. You can set the plant pots and trees around the sides of your patio or deck which will act as a screen from the sun.
Be sure to select your foliage out carefully as you will want something that is dense to provide the maximum shade on those hot days. Ask about your choices when buying. As a general guide maple trees are a very good choice as they are very fast growing, and have thick leaves which provides excellent shade. Other options may have thick foliage but will take many years to reach a good height to provide shade, so bare that in mind when purchasing.
BUILD YOUR OWN SHADE
An excellent way of providing inexpensive shade is to build your own shade structure. If you know some general DIY this could be the option for you as you will save lots of cash over buying manufactured options.
Build a basic frame from timber over your patio or deck and cover it with awning fabric or roofing. This is a popular option for people hoping to save a few dollars. You can design the structure and choose the material to naturally blend in with your patio and garden design.
For partial-shade, build a Pergola and train vines to grown over it. A beautiful, natural way to provide shade in your garden that will encourage wildlife. If you grow the vines up a trellis they will provide shade in the mornings and evenings from the sides. Try growing honeysuckle to give a wonderful smell to your patio or deck. Vines are very fast growing and if properly cared for, they will cover a Pergola in a few years.
Creating shade on your patio or deck does not have to be expensive, let your imagination go, be creative with your ideas, and enjoy your time sat in your self created shade.