Garden shade ideas – simple design and planting tips for your outdoor room

If you’re looking for ways to protect your garden from harsh sunlight, add some privacy features, or grow some unique plants, consider implementing some of these inventive garden shade ideas.

While shade gardens can bring several unwelcome obstacles, the opportunities for the inventive garden are virtually limitless.

Imagine a shady place as a visual, auditory, and olfactory feast. Water that trickles or grass that sways will make you feel more relaxed, and plants are great at soaking up the sun’s rays.

Our many garden shade solutions make enjoying ideas or relaxing in the warm weather a breeze, even on the sunniest summer days.

1. CREATE GARDEN SHADE WITH A PARASOL

If you have limited outdoor space and are trying to figure out how to create a garden with shade, you need to be adaptable.

Laure Chaudanson from Helen Green Design explains that “permanent structures, such as a tree or pergola, might rob an interior of light” and that parasols, sails, and retractable awnings are a better option.

2. INVEST IN AN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT 

Structures in the garden should be planned with the house in mind, but they need not be identical replicas. The combination of old and new is trending in garden design, but the elements you choose should be harmonious.

This modern pergola finishes off the outside garden perfectly.

3. ENHANCE SHADE WITH TREE COVER

A garden’s natural layout, with its shady and sunny spots, will always have a certain allure.

You don’t want to spend your life chasing the shade, and while many homes have an east-west or south-west orientation and parasols or sails may be moved to follow the sun’s path, you might not want to. Dappled shade is a must for the midday hours on a large terrace.

Trees offer great shade without obstructing too much sunlight and may be pruned to fit your needs. They’re a fantastic choice if you need something to hide your garden’s ideas from prying eyes.

4. KEEP COOL WITH A TEMPORARY CANOPY

A little merriment and the opportunity to spruce up the garden for a special occasion are both possible with the help of temporary buildings. Parasols and canopies should feature bold colours and patterns to complement the ‘Indian Summer’ concept.

You’ve come to the right place if you’re seeking a layout similar to this one. A canopy with candy stripes is an attractive alternative to a garden parasol, and it’s easy to set up with just tent poles and guy ropes.

5. DRAPE A PERGOLA WITH FOLIAGE 

Covering a patio or deck where you have meals is as simple as attaching a framework to the house’s external wall. This garden’s roses and climbing vines cover the oak pergola and keep it colourful from summer to fall.

While incorporating climbing plants into your pergola and walkways may seem like an excellent idea, it’s vital to remember that many of them can quickly grow out of control, harming supporting structures if you don’t choose non-vigorous species.

6. PITCH UP A COLORFUL CANOPY

A simple fabric canopy may provide shade wherever needed, and if you give it some flair with bold colour and pattern, it can even serve as a focal point in a sizable garden.

While waterproof, stain-proof, ultraviolet light- and fade-resistant outdoor textiles are ideal for a shade, a durable inside fabric can do just as well for occasional use.

7. SET UP A PICTURE-PERFECT PERGOLA

For practical reasons, Mediterranean regions provide adequate shade. Gardens of any size and price range can benefit from Mediterranean garden ideas like shady pergolas and olive trees that hang down to the ground.

8. USE AN ADJUSTABLE PARASOL OR SAIL

A freestanding parasol is a way to go if you want shade without blocking the scenery. While high-quality shades are meant to survive, they should be brought within for the winter.

9. BRIGHTEN A SHADED SPOT IN YOUR GARDEN

Although it’s true that shade gardens can feel a bit dreary even on the brightest days, that doesn’t mean you have to accept the situation. Brighten the space with flowering shade-loving plants, colourful containers, and garden lights.

Simple garden lighting can, nevertheless, shed light on a dark garden. The proposal for a garden wall suggests directing the late afternoon light to showcase plant shapes. The space can be made more functional by drawing attention to the present patios and seating areas.

10. INSTALL A RETRACTABLE AWNING

A retractable awning is an excellent way to provide shade on a patio or terrace and inside the home. You can go with all black for an understated style or inject some personality with a bright yellow and white striped pattern, as shown above.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH SHADY AREAS IN MY GARDEN? 

In most gardens, you can find an excellent shady location. Gardens that face north spend much of the day in partial shade. The morning sun is brightest in east-facing gardens, while the afternoon and evening sun shines brightest in west-facing gardens.

The privacy it provides is a major perk of a covered garden. Ideas for living walls that double as screens, pergola-covered terraces, and towering trees are just a few of the landscaping elements that may turn a shady wall into a peaceful garden retreat.

WHAT GROWS WELL IN A SHADY GARDEN? 

Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower), Lamium maculatum (Dead nettle), Digitalis (Foxglove), and Hakonechloa are some of the greatest plants for growing in shaded gardens, in addition to many evergreens (Japanese grass).

Plants do better in some areas of shade than others. You’ll be blown away by all the options for dappled shade but disappointed by the lack of actual shade. Nonetheless, you can cultivate gorgeous plants even in the dimmest of spots.

Read the descriptions of the plant plants to find what you need. Some types can’t stand even a little shade, while others actively flourish in the shade. So, it’s essential to figure out what shade you’re up against.

A flowerbed under a tree, a border along the base of a wall, or a patio facing north are all possibilities. Dappled shade is cast by a deciduous tree, while an evergreen casts the deep shade.

You can do a few things to prepare your shady nook or border for planting to get the best possible results. Dig in some compost or leaf mold if you’re dealing with a dry patch. If you want to keep your new plants from drying, water them thoroughly and then cover them with mulch.

Digging in grit and compost can help improve the soil structure and drainage in wet places. Reduce the light of shade from trees by trimming away some of the lower branches and opening up the canopy. In little time, you’ll be able to gaze upon a planting show that will stand out even in the darkest of gardens.