Looking for some shade? No matter the layout of your garden, you can make your own cooler spot with some creativity. And with temperatures in the UK gradually increasing, England is still unprepared to respond to extreme heatwaves.
A little bit of shade in your garden could not only help your flowers and shrubs but provide you with a small spot in which to cool down. Shade could also enhance your garden aesthetics with a little bit more atmosphere and, through the winter months, help the smaller ecosystems there too. Here’s how you can create it.
Why is shade important?
Throughout the summer months, shade plays a valuable role in protecting you from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun is closely linked to increased chances of a dangerous type of skin cancer known as melanoma.
According to statistics from Cancer Research UK, 86% of melanoma cases in the UK are preventable and around 1 in 36 men will be diagnosed with this condition at least once in their lifetime. It’s the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK, and rates have more than doubled in the past 30 years.
We can block UV rays by wearing suncream, but this effect is temporary. If you’re moving around, sweating, or swimming cream can quickly wash off. Shade is the only guaranteed way to keep yourself safe against UV rays.
On a very hot day, shade offers other benefits to your health. It can prevent you from becoming too hot and could help to protect your eyesight too. In your garden, the interplay of sunshine and shade creates an inviting, natural effect in your garden.
Our 5 DIY tips for creating shaded areas in your garden
Create overhead structures
From pergolas to complex canopies, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating unique and attractive overhead structures in your garden. If you’re designing your own wooden structure with intersecting beams, you might choose to use professional kit like a Milwaukee nail gun to ensure total accuracy.
Use furniture
If you have a north-facing garden, using furniture could be an excellent way to enjoy the sunniest spot without exposing yourself to harmful UV rays. You can choose benches and chairs with overhanging decorative features, which provides an opportunity for more foliage and shade.
Go for luscious greenery
Green gardens don’t need to be dull. Embrace greenery and try to incorporate a variety of shrubs and plants to create a spectrum of colour in your garden. From seasonal pops of colour to delightfully shaded garden borders, it’s never too late to get green-fingered.
Think about ground cover
Filling empty space with organic materials and plants could create a striking and pleasing effect in your garden – along with lowering the temperatures there. Choose between flowering plants or shrubs like cyclamen, cardamine, dogtooth violets, and euphorbias.
Create a contrast
Lastly, even if you’ve already added a new structure or decorative feature in your garden, you can think of clever ways to add light or even patterns with shade. Installing a garden pond means light will reflect off the surface of the water, while a mirror hung on wooden fencing or panels could maximise the space there.
Ready to make the most of your garden? If you have any more shade-seeking tips, please feel free to share them in the comments section below.