I have never been a natural gardener. For years, I struggled to keep basic houseplants alive, only to kill them at the first opportunity. It was difficult and stressful to buy a home with a yard, but I knew that I might be able to learn what I was doing wrong and correct the problem. To start off, I focused heavily on the lawn, and tried hard to keep it trimmed and well-maintained. Next, I cleaned up the flowerbeds. It was a lot of work, but I knew that it would pay off in the end. When I was done, my front yard was gorgeous, and guess what--it even stayed alive. This blog is all about loving your little landscape.
Shade is a highly desirable feature for a property, especially in the backyard. If you do not have shade, you need to determine where you want shade, how much shade you want, and what methods you prefer. Shade is obtainable in many forms and can be accomplished with just one method, but you should learn about some of the most effective approaches to make a finalized plan with complete confidence.
Creating a Hedge Barrier
An excellent way to shade an outdoor living space is by creating a hedge barrier. It is possible to grow these hedges on all corners to prevent the sun from getting through except for at and around noon. Another way to use hedge barriers is to make them a natural fence, which also provides shade. An American Arborvitae is great for a tall hedge while an Emerald Arborvitae is ideal for short barriers.
Growing a Tree with a Large Canopy
All trees will provide some level of shade at maturity. However, the amount of shade you get greatly depends on the canopy. A deciduous tree is often the best choice for shading a large area, but you can still obtain a substantial amount of shade with fruit trees or evergreens, as long as you pick the right ones.
Adding Growth to a New or Existing Pergola
While a pergola in itself is not a natural way to obtain shading and may not provide you with enough shade on its own, you can use it in conjunction with plants to increase the shade to your desired level. The number of plants that thrive when grown on a pergola can be quite exciting, mainly because it gives you so many options to make your landscape look and function exactly how you want it to.
If you want to take your shade efforts a step further, you can grow fruits and vegetables on a pergola. Whether you weave the plants in between the rails or hang pots from the top is up to you, but you can grow a wide variety of edibles such as tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and peppers. Being able to create shade for your comfort and enjoyment while also producing your own food is an excellent bargain.
Although it is possible to invest in shade through hardscaping, you should not have to resort to this method. With the options above, you can create a beautiful landscape while getting plenty of shade.
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