On the plus side, this is exactly when you’ll see what kind of shade you need, and where and when you need it – all important considerations when introducing shade into your garden. Whether it’s a place where you like to read or do morning yoga, a terrace that can accommodate long lunches, or a more permanent structure with a view of the garden to sit and relax in, each location and activity requires its own shade at specific times of the day.
The quickest way to create shade is to use some kind of accessory. Umbrellas have long been used for this purpose, dating back to ancient China, Egypt, Greece and Rome, and Mesoamerica – the more decorative round ones are popular. For a clean look, choose a rectangular or square design in sailcloth, which is highly UV-resistant and durable enough to provide shade all summer long. The easiest and most romantic fix is simply to erect a fabric canopy.
Consider the value of trees in providing shade. This may seem obvious, but each tree provides its own type of shade, be it dense or dappled, fragrant or variegated, seasonal or evergreen. With summers getting hotter and drier, consider adding shade trees for the benefit of surrounding plants that will appreciate a little respite during the day. Even a small amount of shade can improve their chances of survival when temperatures rise.
Garden buildings range in design. The simplest is a gazebo placed at the boundary; the more elaborate is a stone pavilion or an intricately crafted iron arch. In smaller gardens, vertical space is provided by pergolas, making the most of every dimension, which is important in compact spaces.
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While not the most decorative shade net, sails are surprisingly inexpensive and effective, partly because there’s no central mast to worry about. Just make sure the ropes they hang from are secure and don’t pose a tripping hazard. Keep them out of the way by attaching them to a fixed piece of ground. At the end of the season, fold the sail up and store it away easily. Blooma 3m grey, £12, diy.com.
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To evoke the bliss of a summer holiday, consider a daybed covered in UV-resistant performance fabric. Most will come in a base colour, but good interiors stores, such as Nina Campbell, Christopher Farr and Penny Morrison, stock performance fabric designs so you can customise all or part of the basic structure. Paint will add colour – and protection from the sun. Zanzibar Acacia Outdoor Double Daybed, £999, rowenhomes.com (find similar canopy daybeds here).
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In a social setting, space is key. Sun umbrellas can be angled as the sun moves around them and positioned away from high-traffic areas. For articulated sun umbrellas made from eucalyptus, try third-generation furniture maker Barlow Tyrie (teak.com). Freestanding cantilever sun umbrellas like the one above offer more versatility and can be rotated and adjusted as required. Spritsail Square Sun Umbrella, £1,510, neptune.com.
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If you’re having a garden party, be mindful of the weather: rain and sun can ruin a well-planned feast, and some guests may also prefer somewhere sheltered to sit. A small, quick-to-set-up, quick-to-put-away tent can save the day. Just be sure to buy some weight to keep it secure if the wind picks up. The VonHaus pop-up tent has removable side panels, from £89, vonhaus.com.
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Swing chairs perfectly capture the timeless, romantic joy of an English country garden. Sitting Spiritually (sittingspiritually.com) specialises in wooden designs, while Emma Grant has recently teamed up with ODD (oddlimited.com) to create a new fabric range for her ‘Old Rocker’ swing chair. The Wilverley Idler Swing Chair (above) features a stainless steel frame, pig-hair armrests and pocket spring cushions. From £2,395, wilverley.com
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Traditional fabric umbrellas are having a moment. For stripes, try Hadeda (hadeda.co.uk) and for Mughal prints, look to Raj Tent Club (rajtentclubshop.com) or East London Parasol Co (eastlondonparasols.com). Susie Watson (susiewatsondesigns.co.uk) has taken inspiration from her travels in India to create block-printed lining designs, which are also featured in Titania Living umbrellas (above). Garden umbrellas, from £850, titanialiving.co.uk.
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Some entertaining spaces may need more definition. A barbecue area can benefit from a simple shade, especially while you wait for your perennials to grow. If the shade is for a one-off occasion, consider a transparent sari, 6m–8m long and around 1m wide. Make a semi-permanent shade from a UV-resistant performance fabric. Monaco dining table and 6 chairs, £3,399, bridgman.co.uk (find a similar garden dining set here).
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Playful striped awnings will add a breezy vintage feel to outdoor furniture and blinds. As the name suggests, The Stripes Company specialises in striped awnings, offering dozens of designs in a range of widths, as well as a range of ready-made garden items, including deck chairs, windbreaks and sunshades with a festive feel. Edwardian-style sunshade in Climbing Stripe, £299, thestripescompany.com.
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Placing a gazebo or similar structure a little way away from the house or main part of the garden will help create a sense of seclusion and retreat. As a natural material, wood has the advantage of weathering to a subtle shade over time, and Border Oak, Shire Oak (shireoak.co.uk) and Radnor Oak offer a range of gazebo and pavilion designs that are supplied as self-assembly kits. Bircher Oak gazebo, from £3,750 ex VAT, borderoak.com
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Sometimes all you need is a classic trellis built into the border with climbing plants trained on the boards and roof. These are cheap and available from garden and DIY stores, but make sure they are pressure treated for durability. Allow them to weather and blend in, or consider painting them a neutral colour: Little Greene’s ‘Invisible Green’ (littlegreene.com) is based on Humphry Repton’s colour palette. Parisienne arbour, £299, forestgarden.co.uk
