Plants need the sun to grow and flourish, but different varieties have unique
light and heat preferences. For relief from summer heat, and to control the
amount of light penetration, you can hang set shade cloth over freestanding
covers, ferneries or pergolas. For smaller spaces, shade cloth can be used to
create shade houses also – raised garden beds with solid arching, covered with
shade cloth. Alternatively, you can use set shade cloth more sparingly to suit;
drape it over individual pots or self-made structures, or wrap the cloth around
stakes or piping.
Set shade cloth is available in a range of UV stabilised densities so you can
choose how much sun your covered plants receive. Most retailers offer densities
of 30 per cent, 50 per cent, 70 per cent and 90 per cent. The 70 per cent cloth
is great for covering pergolas and gazebos; 30 per cent is also popular to
encourage plant growth.
