Best Ways to Create Shade in Your Backyard

Sitting in the sun is lovely, but scorching in it is not. Getting the most out of your Michigan backyard oasis requires creating a space with the right balance of sun and shade for you. There are a variety of options and different considerations for what is the best way to create shade in your backyard.

Sun Umbrella

Pros: Inexpensive, moveable, variety of options
Cons: Needs storage or replacing, small space, not good for windy conditions

Table-mounted or freestanding sun umbrellas are a popular choice for creating just enough shade for a small group. Whether you’re looking to seek shelter from the sun while relaxing in a lounge chair or want to keep your snacks from melting on the table, umbrellas make an excellent choice for shade. Outdoor umbrellas come in a variety of different styles including options that have moveable arms or built-in solar led lights. Keep in mind that these options, while designed for outdoor use, will need to be properly stored when not in use to extend their life or will likely need to be replaced every few years.

Pop-up Canopy

Pros: Movable, full sun coverage, inexpensive
Cons: Need to weight down, tripping hazard, storage

Pop-up canopies are a great way to create a larger, but still temporary, shaded space. They are easily moved from one place to another and can set up or take down in minutes. The convenience of portability comes with the downside of needing to weigh or tie down the canopy frame and avoid stumbling into or over the canopy legs. 

Pergola

Pros: Adds aesthetic appeal, durable, semi or full shade options
Cons: Upfront expense, maintenance, effort to transition to full shade

A pergola is a structure, typically made of wood, added to the exterior of a building and characterized by its roof of slatted beams. This design offers some protection from the sun while still allowing a lot of light to come through which could be a positive or negative depending on your intended goal. A material cover can be added to the frame of the pergola to provide full coverage from the sun. 

Gazebo

Pros: Fully covered, option to fully enclose, durable
Cons: Upfront expense, maintenance, effort to fully enclose

Building or installing a premade gazebo is a luxurious way to create more shade in your yard. Many people choose gazebos that have mesh walls to allow the breeze to enter, but keeps mosquitoes and other bugs out. Solid panels can also be used to create more privacy, turning the gazebo into a secluded space. 

Finding the right shade solution for your backyard can help you to create the outdoor paradise you’ve dreamed about. Mosquito One is committed to helping you enjoy that peace mosquito-free. Schedule your Mosquito One mosquito treatment spray online and enjoy a yard free from mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other pests. 

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