Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy your garden, but if the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that British summers are changing.
Longer periods of warm weather and occasional heatwaves mean many homeowners are discovering that parts of their garden simply become too hot to enjoy during the middle of the day. The patio that was perfect in spring can suddenly feel like the surface of the sun, while the seating area everyone loved in May sits empty because there’s nowhere to escape the heat.
However, creating shade doesn’t mean hiding from the sunshine altogether.
In fact, good garden design is about balance. The best gardens make the most of sunny spots while also providing cooler places to relax when temperatures rise.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful corner to enjoy a book, somewhere for children to play comfortably during the school holidays or an outdoor dining area that stays pleasant throughout the day, there are plenty of ways to introduce shade without making your garden feel enclosed.
At a Glance
- Best for: Homeowners looking to make their garden more comfortable during warmer weather.
- Read time: Around 7 minutes.
- Key takeaway: The most successful gardens combine sunny areas with thoughtfully designed shade, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space throughout the day.
Why Is Shade Becoming More Important in UK Gardens?
Not so long ago, most of us positioned our seating areas wherever they caught the most sunshine.
Now, many homeowners are looking for the opposite, at least during the hottest part of the day.
As our summers become warmer, creating comfortable outdoor spaces is becoming just as important as creating attractive ones.
The Royal Horticultural Society has also highlighted the growing importance of designing gardens that cope with warmer conditions, using trees, planting and carefully planned structures to provide welcome shade while still allowing gardens to feel bright and inviting.
Rather than treating shade as an afterthought, it’s increasingly becoming an essential part of good garden design.
What Is the Best Way to Create Shade in a Garden?
The answer depends on your space and how you use it.
For some gardens, a carefully positioned pergola creates exactly the right balance between sunshine and shelter.
For others, attractive planting, decorative screening or even the clever positioning of seating areas can completely change how comfortable the garden feels.
The important thing is to think about how the sun moves across your garden throughout the day.
A seating area that’s perfect at breakfast time might be unbearable by mid-afternoon, while another part of the garden could become the ideal place to unwind after work.
Planning around the natural movement of the sun allows you to make the most of every part of your outdoor space.
Start by Understanding How You Use Your Garden
Before adding any permanent features, it’s worth asking yourself a few simple questions:
- Do you enjoy entertaining friends and family?
- Are the children outside all day during the school holidays?
- Do you like relaxing with a book after work?
- Or perhaps you’re looking for somewhere peaceful to enjoy your morning coffee.
Your answers should influence every design decision.
There’s little point installing a large shaded structure if everyone naturally gathers elsewhere.
Instead, think about where people already spend their time and consider how that space could become even more enjoyable.
Planting Can Provide Beautiful, Natural Shade
One of the simplest ways to introduce shade is through carefully chosen planting.
Trees, ornamental shrubs and climbing plants not only provide relief from strong sunshine but also add colour, texture and wildlife interest throughout the year.
Unlike solid structures, planting creates dappled shade that changes as the day progresses, giving the garden a softer, more natural feel.
Choosing the right plants is important, particularly if you’re looking for year-round interest as well as summer comfort.
Thoughtful planting can also help define different areas of the garden, making larger spaces feel more welcoming and smaller gardens appear surprisingly spacious.
Pergolas Are More Versatile Than Ever
Pergolas have become increasingly popular in recent years, and it’s easy to understand why.
Far from being purely decorative, they create a flexible outdoor living space that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.
Left open, a pergola provides gentle filtered shade.
Add climbing plants and it becomes a natural feature full of colour and scent.
Alternatively, modern pergolas can incorporate adjustable roofing, giving homeowners greater control over both sunshine and shelter.
When combined with quality paving and comfortable seating, a pergola can completely transform the way you use your garden.
Rather than rushing indoors as the temperature rises, you’ll have a comfortable space that encourages you to stay outside for longer.
Pro Tip
Before deciding where to position a pergola or seating area, spend a few days noticing how the sun moves across your garden.
A feature that looks perfectly placed on paper may feel completely different once you’ve experienced the space throughout the day.
Good garden design starts with observation.
Use Fencing and Screening to Create Comfortable Spaces
Shade doesn’t always have to come from above.
Well-designed fencing, decorative screening and carefully positioned trellis panels can all help create more comfortable areas by reducing direct afternoon sun while also increasing privacy.
Rather than thinking of fencing as simply marking the boundary of your garden, consider how it can become part of the overall design.
For example, combining contemporary fencing with climbing plants can soften the space, while decorative screens can create distinct zones for dining, relaxing or entertaining.
This approach works particularly well in smaller gardens where every part of the space needs to work hard.
Your Patio Could Be Making the Heat Worse
Many homeowners are surprised to discover just how much heat hard landscaping can retain.
Large paved areas exposed to full sun naturally absorb warmth throughout the day before slowly releasing it during the evening.
That’s not necessarily a problem, but it is something to think about when designing your garden.
Creating a balance between paving, planting and shaded areas helps make the whole space feel more comfortable.
A well-designed patio should be somewhere you can enjoy throughout the day, not just early in the morning or late in the evening.
If you’re planning a new patio, it’s worth considering not only the paving material but also its position in relation to the sun, nearby planting and any future shade structures.
Don’t Forget About the Evening
Shade isn’t just about making your garden more comfortable during the day.
As the sun begins to set, a thoughtfully designed garden naturally encourages people to stay outside for longer.
Subtle outdoor lighting can completely change the atmosphere, helping to create a warm and welcoming space for evening meals, family gatherings or simply relaxing after a busy day.
Likewise, well-positioned lighting highlights planting, architectural features and garden structures, allowing you to enjoy your investment long after daylight fades.
When considered as part of the overall design, lighting becomes much more than a practical addition. It helps your garden transition effortlessly from day to night.
A Garden That Works for the Whole Family
For many families, the school summer holidays are when the garden gets used the most.
Children need somewhere safe to play, adults want a comfortable place to relax and everyone appreciates having different areas to enjoy throughout the day.
That’s why creating a variety of spaces often works better than designing one large, open area.
You might have:
- A sunny patio for breakfast.
- A shaded seating area for the hottest part of the afternoon.
- Open lawn for children to play.
- Borders and planting that soften the space and encourage wildlife.
- Lighting that allows the garden to be enjoyed well into the evening.
The result is a garden that’s not only beautiful but also practical, whatever the weather.
Why Professional Garden Design Makes Such a Difference
The best gardens rarely happen by accident.
While it’s tempting to focus on individual features, such as a pergola or a new patio, the most successful gardens are designed as complete outdoor spaces where every element works together.
That’s exactly why so many homeowners choose to work with a professional landscaping company.
ALS Landscaping is proud to have been named Brett Approved Installers National Contractor of the Year 2025, alongside winning Best Patio Above 50sqm and several other industry awards.
Those awards recognise quality workmanship, attention to detail and consistently high standards. More importantly, they reflect our commitment to creating gardens that our customers enjoy for many years to come.
Whether your project involves new paving, planting, fencing, lighting or a complete garden transformation, our aim is always the same: to create an outdoor space that’s both beautiful and practical.
Thinking About Transforming Your Garden?
If this summer has highlighted areas of your garden that could work better, now is an excellent time to start planning.
You don’t need to have every detail worked out before getting in touch.
In fact, many of our projects begin with a simple conversation about what isn’t working and what you’d like to achieve.
ALS Landscaping offers free, no-obligation quotations (distance permitting), and one of the easiest ways to help us understand your project is to send a few photographs of your existing garden when you make your enquiry.
If you have inspiration images saved from magazines, Pinterest or elsewhere, those are helpful too. They give us a clearer idea of the style, features and overall feel you’re hoping to create.
Together, they help us make the most of your consultation and start turning ideas into a practical design.
Conclusion
Creating shade doesn’t mean losing the sunshine. Instead, it’s about designing a garden that gives you the best of both.
By combining thoughtful planting, well-positioned structures, practical landscaping and carefully planned seating areas, you can create an outdoor space that’s comfortable from morning through to evening.
As our summers continue to bring warmer weather, gardens that offer both sunshine and shade are becoming more enjoyable, more versatile and better suited to modern family life.
If you’re considering a garden transformation, we’d be delighted to help. Whether you’re looking for a simple refresh or a complete redesign, the team at ALS Landscaping can help you create an outdoor space that’s designed around the way you live.
FAQs
What is the best way to create shade in a small garden?
The best approach is often to combine several features, such as climbing plants, decorative screening and carefully positioned seating. This provides shade without making the garden feel enclosed.
Are pergolas worth adding to a garden?
Yes. Pergolas can provide welcome shade, define different areas of the garden and create an attractive feature that can be enhanced with climbing plants or lighting.
Will adding shade make my garden feel darker?
Not if it’s designed well. The aim is to create a balance between sunny and shaded areas so you can enjoy your garden comfortably throughout the day.