Staying Cool This Summer – How to Outshine Yourself in the Garden!

Brits looking to enjoy the warm weather are encouraged to also protect themselves by creating shade in their garden.

The gardening experts at GardeningExpress.co.uk give Brits tips on how to create shady spots in their gardens to protect themselves from the sun.

As much as we love the hot weather, it’s important to give ourselves a break from the sun by going into some shade.

And if you’re entertaining guests, remember that not all guests want to sit in the sun for hours. So remember to create shady places where people can enjoy nature.

Chris Bonnett, Founder of GardeningExpress, said: “Enjoying the sun is great, but I would advise everyone to at least have some shade in their garden.

“Sometimes sitting in the direct sun for a while becomes unbearable and it’s not the best for us. A shady spot in your garden gives you some relief from the hot weather while still allowing you to enjoy the great outdoors.

“This is especially important if you plan on hosting and entertaining guests – they might not want to be in the direct sun all day.

“And if you have kids, a shady spot means they can enjoy being outside and you don’t have to worry about them being in direct sunlight for too long either.

“The obvious option is to buy a parasol, but you can do other things, like. For example, invest in sun sails or even garden furniture with a built-in canopy.”

The easiest way to create a shady spot in your garden is to buy a parasol. You can buy freestanding ones that are easy to move around the garden so you can create a shady spot anywhere.

Shade sails hook onto your house, trees or posts and allow a cloth to sit on top to block direct sunlight. The good thing about this option is that the sides are left open, which brings in a nice breeze.

You may not have space in your yard to grow plants and trees to create shade, but the good thing is you can replicate this with hanging plants. Plants like English ivy and ferns are great for this because they are full and leafy. They look great and will continue to grow in the shade which is a bonus.

Depending on the size of your garden and your budget, you may want to consider a pergola stand. These are great long-term investments for those who actually spend a lot of time outside.

Their construction offers relief from harsh sun but does not block it completely.

If you prefer shade then you should definitely invest in the right patio furniture. Some garden sofas these days come with a built-in canopy.

This not only saves you the hassle of buying them individually, but also suits your furniture and the prices of this type of garden sofa are usually no more expensive than normal garden sofas.

Positioning tall plants and trees creates a mottled shade that’s sufficient for those looking to escape the sun.

Gardening Express experts recommend Cotinus Coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ or Bamboo and Silver Birches.