How to Add Shade to a Treeless Backyard

With warmer weather and longer sunny days on the horizon, now is the time to get your yard ready for summer get-togethers. If you don’t have many trees in your yard, consider adding some shade to make the heat more manageable and provide protection from the elements.

You could plant more trees, but it may take some time (years) before they get big enough to provide a lot of shade. But whether or not you plan to increase natural shade over time, there are plenty of other structures you can build to meet your backyard shade needs.

How to choose a shading structure for your backyard

There are several factors you should consider when choosing a shadow structure:

• Goal: Providing shade for a single sun lounger or picnic table may require a different approach than creating a patio with complete sun and rain protection. Do you want to completely block out the sun or just add shadows?
• Temporary and (semi-)permanent: Temporary shade structures such as umbrellas and tents can be easily moved around the yard or removed when not in use, while more permanent options such as pergolas and awnings create a more finished look and more uniform shadow. Shadow sails, an intermediate option, are usually attached to the ground or walls, but can be removed if necessary.
• Weather: If where you live gets a lot of rain or you have very hot weather with lots of sunshine, choose the materials and designs that hold up best and provide the most comfort in those specific conditions.
• Layout and Design: You need to consider how sun and shade move across your yard during the day, the shape and layout of your space, and your personal design aesthetic. Are you installing a freestanding structure or attaching a pergola or canopy to an existing patio or wall?
• Safety and Upkeep: Similarly, make sure any design takes into account issues of drainage, wind, and proximity to your home, grilling area, etc. You should also consider the care and maintenance of structures that can be susceptible to rot and insects.
• Installation: While many awning structures are easy to DIY – as easy as opening an umbrella – some may require special tools or even professional help to ensure a solid construction.
• Budget: Temporary structures are usually cheaper than permanent installations unless you want to spend the same amount.

5 shade options for your backyard

Let’s take a look at your backyard shading options, from temporary to more permanent.

pop up tent

A pop-up tent may not be the most aesthetically pleasing shade design, but it’s easy to put up, take down, and move around as needed, and blocks out both sun and rain. As a bonus, pop-ups are portable for use while camping or in the back of the house. Note that tents will probably not hold up well if left packed in high winds.

Umbrella

Patio umbrellas come in a variety of designs, sizes, and budget options, and like tents, they can be easily moved or stowed away when not in use. Individual umbrellas come with center rods and heavy bases or cantilevers to stretch over the patio. You can also get decent shade from an umbrella placed in the center of your patio or picnic table.

Shade sail or tarp

Shade sails provide protection from rain and sun while still allowing for sufficient air movement. Usually they are attached to posts driven into the ground, but the sail itself is adjustable and removed in case of strong winds. They are also relatively easy to make yourself .

If you already have a gazebo built in your yard but want a fuller coverage, you can also attach a denim tarp over the slats .

Pergola or gazebo

A pergola can be freestanding (either drilled into the deck or anchored in concrete) or attached to a wall , to provide filtered shade over a patio or seating area. It won’t completely block out the sun or provide protection from the rain, and it requires more materials and know-how to set up than a tent or tarp. You can buy kits or design a pergola from scratch.

A pergola is essentially a pergola with a full roof, which means more complete weather protection. Gazebos and pergolas cannot be easily moved or removed, so they are best suited to certain shaded spaces.

If you already have a pergola or covered deck and want even more shade, consider hanging curtains outdoors or adding flowering plants such as wisteria or vines.

Awning or canopy

Awnings can be installed as a continuation of a wall or roof, or freestanding. You can also attach a canopy to your deck railing. While the canopies are more permanent, some of them are removed if you need the sun exposure option.