The summer months give us the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and some warm sunlight. It’s a welcome break from the bleak skies of winter and the cold rainy days of spring. Unfortunately, the sun can get a bit overwhelming at times, which is why you might need some shade to protect you every once in a while. Here are some of the best ways to give your yard some quality shade.

Plant some trees

What better way to shield yourself from the sun than using mother nature itself? Trees are the best way to give yourself some natural shade. They’re the most eco-friendly choice by far, and they aren’t all that expensive.

When it comes to giving shade, not all tree varieties are created equal. It all depends on the kind of tree you pick and the way it grows its branches and leaves. Your local nursery might have some arborists that could point you in the direction of the best kind of shade trees.

If you decide to buy a younger tree, it might be a couple of months before you get any noticeable results from the branches. However, it’s absolutely worth the wait and you will have a great addition to your garden.

Make yourself a gazebo

Even a small gazebo can completely change how you view your back yard. This gorgeous construction gives you a place where you can sit back and enjoy some tea with your family or guests. It’s like having an entirely new room outside your home. It also protects you from direct sunlight for most of the day.

A gazebo gives you more options for cooling yourself down on warmer days. Even without direct sunlight, you can still get hot. The construction lets you set up plants everywhere around it, which have a cooling effect. You can even install a fan and some water aerosol gadgets for some additional cooling.

Curtains

Patio curtains might seem like a bit of a fancy solution, but they aren’t difficult to install. They’re just curtains like any other. They’re a quick and relatively inexpensive solution to the problem of too much sunlight on your patio.

The only issue you might run into is having to wash the curtains often. Dust will rise from the ground and wind will sweep it directly onto your curtains, so try to avoid light colours that easily get dirty.

Outdoor umbrellas

Umbrellas are a great way to instantly add a large amount of shade to any area. You don’t have to worry about building anything or setting it up. All you have to do is open it and voila, you have quite a bit of shade at your disposal.

Most commercial outdoor umbrellas are big enough that they can cover your whole patio. They’re incredibly convenient and simple to use, which is why a lot of people get them to prepare for the scorching summer sun. They come in a variety of colours, so you never have to worry about your umbrella not matching the rest of your yard.

Pergola with plants

Pergolas are a great addition to any kind of garden or backyard. They give you ample opportunities to create more shade using their roof as a base. One of the best ways to decorate your pergola is with some twining vines.

Wisteria plants go perfectly with any outdoor pergola. They wrap their gentle vines around the pillars and climb to the top, entwining every part of the construction. The leaves and flowers act as a gentle and gorgeous shading material that will only let in enough sunlight to make you feel comfortable.

The wisteria is a pretty aggressive plant, so you don’t have to worry about this process taking too long. Within months, you can expect it to wrap around every single part of the pergola several times over. When the flowers blossom, it makes for a beautiful sight as well.

Conclusion

There’s a huge difference between enjoying the outdoors and getting burned to a crisp. You will want to avoid the latter. Using some of the aforementioned methods, you can avoid the scorching warmth of summer afternoons and still enjoy spending time in your gorgeous yard.