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Great ways to create a shade in your garden
In addition to providing adequate protection from the sun and rain, gazebo tents are also ideal for keeping bugs at bay on hot days. Net photo
A garden can be set depending on the owner’s interest. Some people prefer gardens with less trees and simple flowers, while others prefer gardens with a couple of trees and flowers. Besides providing shade, these gardens creates beauty and uniqueness in a home.
Gazebo
Boniface Wanja, a landscaper at Bonre Consultancy Palour, says though trees are known for basically providing shade, some people decide to go artificial by creating a shade in their gardens using artificial materials. The different gazebos and the way you blend the colours may bring out a very beautiful look in your home. There are different types of gazebos including:
Hut
Wanja notes that you may choose to add a bit of African touch in your gardens by building huts for a shade. These are made of local materials such as sand, reeds, and locals grass.
“Huts can be placed anywhere in your garden but will look better on the side as opposed to the centre. You can also add African-themed furniture for comfort and beauty, ” he adds.
He also notes that adding flowers or incorporating a few hanging plants on the sides can create great beauty.
Light will also add much needed brightness especially at night. Not only will it give your home a glow, it will help rid your outdoor space of dangerous animals and insects.
Tents
Tents are also a great trend in the gazebo world. They come in multiple designs, colours and shapes. The beauty with using tents is that they are flexible and can be shifted to different locations. A few seats preferably plastic chairs can be added for comfort.
Trees
Joseph Kimera, a florist, says the key principle of using trees is that the tree must have underground and not side roots. Trees with fibrous roots grow long and big hence making cracks in the garden and may damage the house as well. Trees that grow too tall like the Mahogany, eucalyptus will damage your house in case they break.
Trees will help in bringing in fresh air as well as a feel of nature in your home.
Wanja says one should also consider planting functional trees such as mangoes (though they should be planted a reasonable distance from the house), guavas, oranges, lemons (these will also help chase insects and snakes ways), pawpaw’s and jack fruit among others. These have an added advantage of providing food, shade and fresh air.
None functional trees to plant in the garden for shade include palms, podo, cedar and Christmas trees among others. Wanja says cedar has an added advantage of being a mosquito repellant.
Maximise your privacy
According to homes to love.com, an online portal, a covered pergola provides privacy from neighbours who can view your garden from above, but if you want to still allow sun to penetrate think about using a semi-transparent material such as timber battens or bamboo on top.
For a more permanent waterproof structure consider aluminium louvres or tinted glass. In very tiny gardens overlooked by tall buildings think about screening the entire overhead plane of the garden to create one lovely, room-like space.
Caution
Plant growth depends on the type of soil in your garden. If your soils are poor, with poor drainage or low water absorption consider adding some fertilizers or planting specific types that will withstand those conditions.
Flowers
Joseph Kimera, a florist, says flowers should be planted in between the trees. He adds that you should pay extra attention while making your flower selection because some flowers may not be suitable for your purpose of creating a shade.
Flowers such as ashoka, lantana, America flower, jolanta and the yesterday, today, tomorrow flower have good colours that can blend with the trees and bring out the overall beauty of your garden.
