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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Reviewing The Benefits Of A Home Hygrometer to Monitor Humidity

What Is a Hygrometer?

A hygrometer is a small device, they vary in size, but for many maybe a bit larger than a credit card in most cases, that measures the amount of moisture or humidity in the air. They can hang on a wall or be placed on a surface, some are even magnetic.

They are available in both digital and analogue types. There is a wide range of options to choose, from the most basic to the most advanced depending on your needs. For example some digital options offer temperature readings, clear low, comfort and high indicators and humidity ranges over 24 hours

Why Use A Hygrometer?

We bought a few hygrometers as we realised our home was showing some signs of high humidity and wanted to know what we were dealing with. We already had a dehumidifier but it didn't show humidity readings. Some dehumidifiers do.

I didn't realise at that stage that high humidity in a house can cause long term issues if not addressed for our health and the house. When we got our hydrometer, It felt good to know which rooms needed attention and where to target our efforts and now we are in control of the humidity in the house. I will warn you though it can become a slight obsession knowing what the humidity is everywhere !

A home that has humidity too high can become an uncomfortable and even an unhealthy environment. A hygrometer is a good aid to easily monitor humidity before the various unwelcome visitors like mould, mildew, dust mites, bacteria, moisture loving pests like slugs, and even silverfish become a problem.

These are some of the main effects a house and the people who live there can experience if humidity is not tracked and regulated. Our house is an older property built of very thick solid brick and is susceptible to high humidity, especially now it is all double glazed.

Mould and Mildew

I hate to see mould anywhere but it is common in bathrooms and kitchens especially. Ours gets very humid after showing and cooking even with keeping windows open. High humidity of around 70% creates ideal conditions for the growth of mould. If we can get humidity to 50-60% conditions are less favourable but mould can still survive especially in corners, behind furniture and in poorly ventilated areas.

We could aim for a home humidity of between 30 to 50% which makes it much harder for mould to grow and thrive. At below 30% the air is far too dry for mould to grow, however it is also not healthy for us.

A humidity level of between 40-50% is about ideal for our health and the house health. So monitoring our kitchen and bathroom is a good thing for us to do to check humidity is not going too high. We must expect spikes in humidity after showers and cooking but the aim is that it goes back down.

Dust Mites

These are tiny creatures, invisible to the human eye who live in our homes. Out in nature they do a good job of breaking down matter and eating it. However in our homes they are not so valuable. They prefer to set up home in mattresses, clothing, carpets and rugs, heavy curtains, cushions and sofas and in particular they love humid environments.

Dust mites are not necessarily harmful directly and do not live on people, but they feed on our discarded skin cells. We shed a surprising amount of skin every day and night so they will generally have plenty to live on ! They also love our pets dead skin cells and dander.

Most of us don't know they are even there, we cannot see them and will not suffer any ill effects from them or their droppings, but if anyone in the household is allergic to them the symptoms can be uncomfortable, even debilitating. These vary from coughing, sneezing, runny sore eyes and even skin rashes.

I have to say I was not all that aware of them until my husband developed an allergy to them and now we make major efforts to keep numbers as low as possible. Now I know a lot more about dust mites, I also personally do not like the thought of them in my mattress and sofas and am now a little obsessed with keeping their numbers down!

Dust mites especially love humidity around 70% or above, it is perfect for their needs and breeding capabilities. However they can still survive at around 40 to 50% humidity, although breeding rates do slow down. It takes humidity below 40% for a prolonged length of time to kill off or seriously reduce their populations. We aim for our home to be just around 40 to 50% which is a reasonable balance for health and house health and along with other anti dust mite measures is acceptable for control.

Some dust mites may still survive deep inside mattresses or sofas, where if the humidity rises again they can start a new population, they are very adaptable and amazingly resistant mites! I do admire them, even if I don't really want to share my bed and sofas with them!

So Ideally to heavily reduce dust mite populations, a range of 30 to 50% humidity is good. However it is not healthy for us or our homes to have humidity too low and certainly not below 30% for any length of time. So a hygrometer will help us to know if we live in an environment suitable for sustaining dust mites or not.

Health Issues

If our homes are too humid it is not only dust mites that are the issue for our health as overly humid air can make asthma worse and exacerbate any existing allergies.

On the other hand air that is too dry is just as bad as it can irritate the respiratory system and can cause dry itchy skin and eyes which is very unpleasant and uncomfortable.

So in these cases tracking to keep humidity at around 40 to 50% is much more comfortable for most people. A home with a balanced and more stable humidity, especially in bedrooms, will help to contribute to a healthier more comfortable sleeping environment as well.

Items In The Home.

We work hard for our things and want to keep them in good condition. It is heart breaking if treasured, useful, beautiful or sentimental items become damaged.

Wooden furniture, books, special year diaries, musical instruments, and electronics and some artwork and photographs are all sensitive and reactive to excess moisture which can cause warping, decay and corrosion if humidity is too high. Wallpaper can peel away and Clothes can also smell musty and become damp in a too humid atmosphere.

So knowing the humidity in your home and keeping it balanced helps to keep all these precious items in a good state at a stable level.

Plant Care In Homes And Greenhouses

Of course I had to mention my beloved plants! Those kept inside are always in an artificial environment and we control their food, water and humidity needs.

For houseplants to thrive we need to understand and replicate as much as possible their native conditions. So once we know our indoor plants needs, a hygrometer will assist us to know what the levels are and if they need increasing or decreasing ensuring the best conditions for plants to thrive in our homes, conservatories, orangeries or greenhouses.

The Main Points to Consider When Choosing a Hygrometer

Display Screen?

Decide if you would like smaller or bigger numbers to read. Some have larger, clearer displays than others. Some also use smiley faces to sad faces or coloured bands, often in red, green and blue, to show low humidity, comfort and high humidity or dew drops to show different levels of humidity which can be useful.

Humidity And Temperature Monitoring?

Hygrometers measure humidity but many also can measure temperature. I think this is useful to give an overall picture of your home environment. Some also display the humidity range and/or temperature range that the house or room has gone through in a 24 hour period which is useful to know.

How To Display In The Home?

Would you like to wall mount, use its own stand, have magnetic capability or have two or three of these features for flexibility?

Accuracy?

Ideally the Accuracy range should be within plus 2 to minus 3 to give a reasonable picture.

Simple device or smart features?

Some are simple open the box and ready to go, others have app integration and alerts for high or low humidity which can be useful in humidity sensitive environments or if you enjoy more advanced technology.

Battery or Power sources?

Consider if you would like batteries and what type is used and how easy they are to replace. Do you need or would like a low battery indicator? Also consider if USB rechargeable is a feature you need or would like.

Where do you need it?

Do you need just indoor hygrometers for your home, or might you want to use it in a greenhouse, garage or outside room

Price Points

Prices vary a lot from very reasonable for very basic models to more expensive for those with lots of smart features. Build quality and longevity are also factors to look for. I look for long lasting durability.

Here Are A Selection Of Hygrometers

6-Pack Mini Hygrometer Indoor Humidity MeterCheck Price SECRUI Hygrometer ThermometerCheck Price Indoor Outdoor Thermometer Wireless with 3 SensorsCheck Price Digital Hygrometer with Max and Min RecordsCheck Price

6 Pack Mini Hygrometer

SECRUI hygrometer temperature

Indoor/Outdoor Thermoneter hygrometer

Digital Hygrometer Max min

Hygrometers - Easy and Quick Way To Measure Humidity

So for a small price a hygrometer can tell you quickly and easily what the humidity levels are in each of your rooms and in any greenhouses you may have.

Knowing your humidity levels is the first step to managing humidity to take care of your health and your home. If you are getting readings of 40-50% you are doing well.

Thank you for reading. In my next article I will discuss what to do if your humidity levels are too high.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Reviewing The Benefits Of Shoe Protector Bags

Decorative shoes stood on cream shoe protective bag

Like many people we have a number of different shoes. Some we use very often, some are more seasonal like boots and sandals and some we rarely use such as occasion or wedding wear.

When we do a deep clean of our home, we also clean and clear out our shoe storage. This is when I realised how many of our shoes, especially the ones we don't use all the time, were looking a bit dusty despite being cleaned before they were put away. Also one or two had slight scuffs where they had been packed too close together.

Altogether it all just looked a bit messy and disorganised. Now messy storage always makes me feel a bit unsettled and shoes are expensive, so worth looking after. So I looked into shoe protective covers.

Shoe protector covers or bags are specially designed covers used to shield shoes from dust, moisture, scratches, and other damage, basically a protective barrier.

They can be made of several different materials such as cotton, non-woven fabric, nylon, plastic, silk, flannel, satin or polyester.

Black shoes stood on plastic shoe protective cover

These Are The Key Benefits Of Shoe Protector Bags

Protection from Dust. Especially for shoes which are stored for a longer term without wearing. This keeps shoes clean and protected for your next wear.

Water resistant. You can buy shoe protector bags that help protect against high humidity and moisture damage. These are also very good for when travelling.

From a weekend away to a holiday, we usually pack at least a spare pair of shoes or sandals. Packing them in a separate bag keeps the shoes clean. Especially once they have been worn, keeping them separate from your clothes or other luggage.

Protection from Scratches. When you have shoes that may be more delicate, or have cherished memories like your wedding shoes, or for those that have pearls or other adornments it is important to keep them undamaged from being with other shoes or any other items in the same cupboard.

Cream shoes inside open cream shoe cover

Storage. Protective bags keeps shoes you don't wear very often or special shoes free from dust and dirt in wardrobes, shoe closets or if storing under beds.

Gym goers and sports players can carry sports shoes or swimming pool sandals separate from everything else.

Commuters who want to wear a comfy pair of shoes on the commute to work maybe on public transport, but a smart pair for the office, can easily carry the spare pair cleanly and safely in these bags.

Bags that close around the shoes via a drawstring or a zip help prevent spiders and anything else crawling in to less used shoes !

Detail of embellished shoes stood on protective cover

Choice of Material For Shoe Protector Bags.

Which fabric you choose may depend on the reason you would like them for your shoes. In most households a combination of different fabrics work well.

The choices are usually from a non woven fabric lightweight and breathable, making them ideal for most footwear. Plastic, Nylon or polyester are generally more water resistant making them great for travel, sports and long term storage.

Then there are Cotton or Flannel even Silk and Satin choices which are softer and gentler for delicate shoes or those with fabrics or embellishments.

Prices vary from very inexpensive to a higher cost mainly dependant on the materials and size required.

It is important to make sure that any fabric bags are washable.

Many come with drawstrings and some come with zippers or fold over style. There is a decent choice of colours and some have beautiful patterns. This makes it easier to choose say a different colour shoe bag for each family member or choose colour or pattern dependant on type of shoe.

Overall I feel there is a good choice for our needs. Here is a small selection to give you an idea.

Bee Green Shoe Organizer With ZipsCheck Price Waterproof Drawstring Shoe Bags For Packing, Storage And TravelCheck Price Cotton Rich Shoe Storage BagCheck Price Plus sized Shoe Bag For Gym, travel, odour resistantCheck Price

Linked Text
Bee Green Shoe Organizer With Zips

Waterproof Drawstring Shoe Bags For Packing, Storage And Travel

Cotton Rich Shoe Storage Bag

Plus sized Shoe Bag For Gym, travel, odour resistant.

I love now how our shoes all look protected and more organised in their respective shoe protector bags. It makes the shoe cupboard look more together somehow and that feels good.

For most shoes I can fit both pairs into one shoe bag. However if the shoes are larger or a chunky boot for example I simply use one shoe bag per boot.

Also the shoes that I wear more often and keep at the bottom of my wardrobe are much more protected from dust and any damage.

As long as shoes, sandals and boots are put away clean, I can just get them out and wear without having to think about cleaning them first or wondering what condition they are in. I now have a selection I can use for travelling and storage.

Cream cotton and plastic shoe protector covers with drawstrings

For footwear we don't wear often, I am secure in the knowledge that they are protected from dust, damage and moisture.

In addition I am finding a wide variety of other items that will fit into these shoe bags and I can use them to keep other things dust free!

So for a small cost outlay for the shoe protector bags, there are so many long term benefits for your footwear and other items and the joy of a clean, protected, more organised shoe cupboard!

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Reviewing Six Key Gardening Tasks To Do In Autumn

Autumn is one of my favourite times of year. I love the still warm yet mellow sunshine, the quieter days and slowing down of nature, the still long days but earlier nights, the sound of the rain and the slight crispness in the air.

It all marks a transition time in the garden, there are still gorgeous vibrant autumn flowers and lots of green leaves and activity, yet we are very much leaving summer behind with every passing day. There are more seedheads and rosehips and berries in our gardens. In this time there are some key jobs we need to do now in the garden to clear, prepare and organise to get ready for winter and the spring to come.

1. Tidying Up The Garden(with caveats.)

I usually start my autumn tasks with taking stock of what I have and what did well and what did badly. I also clear out some of the old plant material and do some cutting back. In this clearing phase I am very mindful of nature and that we do need to leave lots of cover for insects and small creatures so they can live and survive the autumn and winter. So I tend to curate the tidying up and only do what is absolutely necessary.

I do clear out all the annuals from pots. They have grown, boomed, faded and set seed and completed their cycle. The plant itself can be discarded or put on the compost heap. I tend to tip out any loose compost onto the garden soil. Then I clean out all the pots.

With the Perennial flowers I prune them back for tidiness where needed, but leave as many seedheads and stalks for wildlife to feed on and hide in during the winter months. These can always be tidied up in the spring for a neater look.

Do be careful what you prune though, many plants and shrubs should not be pruned right now as any new growth or exposed branches may be susceptible to frost. Spring flowering shrubs should not be pruned now or you will be cutting off all the flowers. If in doubt leave them now.

If I had a greenhouse I would now bring in tender plants, but instead I start getting out my fleece to cover these plants for the winter.

All my evergreens are pruned now so that they will maintain their shape throughout winter and as they are the backbone of the garden in winter its important they look nice.

It won't be very long before leaves start turning all their beautiful colours and then falling to the ground. I tend to leave these leaves in the borders where the worms will do their thing and take them in to the soil and above soil leaves will provide shelter for tiny insects.

However I do clear leaves from the paths where they could become soggy in the rain and slippery underfoot. I also clear them from any gravel and the garden lawn as they are not good for the grass where they can cause fungal disease and in gravel they just look messy as they decompose.

Flowers like forget me nots are way past their best now. Do not just cut them down though. They can be lifted and divided then replanted in new places around the garden to make a bigger better display next year. Lift the whole clump, divide it gently with your hands being careful to gather enough of the root system and replant about a foot apart in new locations.

2. Caring for Lawns and Grass

Spring and Autumn are key times for lawn care and renovation. In many ways now Autumn is a better time.

Our spring was so dry that although i sowed new grass seed with the lack of rain it made watering a time consuming chore and then we had four heatwaves which scorched the grass and turned a large part of it brown. As we had a hosepipe ban we could not water it, but I knew that most grass recovers once it gets some rain.

So now in Autumn there is a chance to nurture the grass again and give it a better chance to recover. I start with scarifying the soil, so raking it with a lawn rake, which gets rid of all the dead thatch.

Then I use a fork in the soil every few inches to aerate the soil. After that a lawn feed is a good idea and it sets the lawn up for a good season.

To read more about overseeding a lawn please read Reviewing Overseeding A Lawn With Grass Seed.

Autumn is also the time for a final cut of the lawn. We hardly mowed our lawn this year due to the hot sunny weather and heatwaves. However now it has had some rain and grown and greened up we can give it a light trim before winter. I prefer to use a manual lawnmower and review the drawbacks and benefits here

3. Planting Plans

Autumn/Fall is a good time to review our planting in the garden and I usually increase my stock and plant beautiful spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths during September and October. If you grow vegetables it is time to sow over wintering onions and garlic which are a good crop and useful in the kitchen. Tulips should be planted a little later during October and November.

I love doing this as although we rapidly approach winter, it is an act of joy that soon after Spring will arrive.

We have enough established shrubs and roses now. However, if you are wanting to plant any shrubs, hedges, trees or roses, it is more economical to buy bare root varieties now and plant in Autumn so that they can establish well before the winter and then they will settle and start to grow well in the springtime.

It is also a good time to move established shrubs that need moving to a better place to give them time t establish and then grow on in Spring. Even if it is rainy do always settle them in with a good drink of water and if there are dry spells you may need to keep watering yourself for a while. Always water deeply to make sure it reaches the roots.

4. Mulching Borders

For borders it is a good idea to lay down a good mulch now to protect plants and nurture the soil. Mulch can be organic like bark or compost or inorganic like pebbles or slate compost to name a few options.

Just ensure you mulch a couple of inches deep and keep a few inches of space around the base of any shrub and trees stems or trunks. More Information On Reviewing The Benefits Of Garden Mulch

5.Pruning Shrubs, Hedges And Roses

At this time of year I prune my tea and shrub roses, this is not the big prune but rather just a light cutting back so that they do not get caught up in the wind and suffer root rock as they sway. Therefore prune about a third off the top with secateurs or loppers. However if you like the rose hips you will need to leave them or prune very lightly

For climbers I do prune off any long whippy stems I don't want in September. This is mainly to prevent them from flying around in the wind and becoming a hazard. A little later on I will be tying in the stems I want and recreating the framework for beautiful roses next year.

For pruners nearly every gardener has their favourites and it is very personal. You need to balance grip, weight, cutting power, ease of use and comfort overall. For me I like the Fiskars and the Wolf ranges.

Hedges that could not be cut before due to birds nesting are now perfectly fine to prune back and Autumn is a good time to do it so it stays tidy all winter.

Fiskars Pruning Shears for Gardening, Multipurpose 8" Garden Shears with Sheath and SoftGrip HandleCheck Price

6. Taking Care Of Wildlife In The Garden

Looking after or caretaking wildlife to me is a crucial part of gardening. Here in UK we are losing so much natural habitat that nature is increasingly reliant on our gardens to survive.

While August is a very quiet time in our garden for birds, come September and October they start coming back into the garden. It is a great idea to have a birdbath as water is more important than most of us realise.

Birds, insects and small mammals become more reliant on our gardens for food sources. This can be food we put out in bird feeders to the berries and seeds and roots in our gardens. In UK Hedgehogs require shelters such as log piles, leaf litter or bespoke hedgehog houses to live in during the colder months.

Insects and spiders need wild areas to shelter in and hunt from. So hollow stems of flowers, seed heads, leaf litter on soil it all helps them to live. So it hugely benefits these creatures to not be too tidy in our gardens.

For More ideas Reviewing How To Help Wildlife In our Gardens

BACKYARD EXPRESSIONS PATIO · HOME · GARDEN 912449-WB Outdoor Garden Bird Bath- Bronze- Weather Resistant Polyresin-30 InchCheck Price

Garden Tools We Need In Autumn

Lawnmower
Brush
Rake
Fork
Spade
Secateurs- I like my Wolf Bypass Secateurs
Loppers
Bulb planter
Handheld Trowel and Fork

Some people have said to me that gardening ends in September, but for me there is such a lot to do in order to help wildlife, keep the garden looking good and healthy and safe for us.

Autumn/Fall is a lovely time to be outside, nice and cool, with often some mellow sunshine and lots of wildlife to watch and plants to find in our gardens to fascinate us.

Read More Gardening Reviews on ReviewThisGardening.com

Read Diary Of A Wild Country Garden Blog

Read More Product Reviews on ReviewThisProducts.com

Reviewing Six Key Gardening Tasks To Do In Autumn By Raintree Annie

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Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Reviewing Shading and Shielding Garden Plants From The Sun

Plants Shaded From Intense Sun With Shade Cloth

This summer we have had a total of four heatwaves, this is really unusual for where I live. Generally, most of my life, we have been fortunate to get a few sunny warm weeks, often having cloudier days and rainy times in the summer. However this year has been very dry with hardly any rain since early spring and fierce heat during the heatwaves for this part of the world. If this is a trend that is developing I am thinking that long term my gardening will need to change and short term I need strategies to get plants thought the summers with shading.

Many of my beautiful plants are ones that are suited to mild summers with some sun but not intense sun. This year they have really suffered. The scorching rays of the sun has burned their leaves and I have noticed that even the a few days after I watered them they are wilting again. Many have not grown this year as they should and the stunted growth has been noticeable.

Shade really matters in a garden and I am lucky to have one side of the garden that faces north so this year I crammed all the plants that could be moved and those in pots into this shady area. However there were many plants that could not be moved or I did not have room for or where too big or heavy to move at this stage so they had to be in the south or west facing areas that were getting the most intense sunshine for weeks on end.

I tried all the usual tricks to make shade which are still very valid tips.

Grouping the plants together in pots all together so that they would help each other with humidity and shade.
Putting the bigger sturdier leafier ones at the front and the more delicate smaller ones at the back to protect them more.
Water deeply so the water gets to the roots. This is better strategy than little and often, though a hosepipe ban did not help this situation.
Use saucers under as many pots as possible to give a water resevoir
Moving plants under the shade of trees or large shrubs or to a north facing area.

However this year none of this was enough and I started looking into alternative shading devices and products.

Why Does Shade Matter To Plants?

Some plants adore the sunshine while others can take it in small doses or for half a day while others hate it.

They are very much like people in that respect ! However in a heatwave situation, especially if it goes on for more than a day or two even all but the most resilient sun lovers need a respite.

Shading helps plants in the following ways:

It helps reduce or prevent sun scorching of their leaves and reduces the leaf temperature
Lowers the stress on the plants
Keeps them flowering a little longer. many of my sun stressed plants flowered and went to seed much more quickly than normal.
Helps conserve water loss, no matter how much you water if they are in full sun and heat it evaporates quicker.

Here Are The Shading Materials I Tried

Old bedding sheets - I found these quite useful and for this purpose and free as I already had them. They were not too bad, but were not UV resistant and the airflow was not great, so did not work as well as I had hoped.

It also felt a little strange and a bit messy laying out sheets in the front garden where passers by and neighbours were looking on. Also not really easy to clean in the garden, I sponged off any bird droppings etc but they really needed a wash after a couple weeks. Still it was better than nothing and was Ok in the back garden.

White Fleece- this is the fleece I usually use in winter to wrap terracotta plant pots and very cold hating plants up in for a winter blanket. It did work quite well wrapping it around some black pots I had as now the pots looked white and I hoped more heat resistant as black generally absorbs heat, while white deflects it more.

I wrapped it around some of the plants foliage as well and it worked fairly well to shade the plants but I did worry that they were getting too hot, so spent quite a lot of time wrapping and unwrapping them to give them good enough ventilation. Also I had to wrap very loose around the plant to allow better airflow. So really I found it good for wrapping the black plant pots themselves, but less so for wrapping the plants.

Umbrellas! Yes this was one of my more inventive ideas I think. I used several large umbrellas we have in the extreme heat to shade out delicate plants. I have to say it did work very well at shading although it was not easy when there was a breeze as well to keep it in the right place, but if total shade is what required this can be a possible option. They were also easy to clean.

They certainly reduced water evaporation and no leaves got scorched so I would say really quite successful. I only used umbrellas when the sun was at its height though as I wanted the plants to have some light. They will only work for one plant at a time though, not bigger beds.

I think the neighbours thought it slightly odd, but were too polite to say anything !! I do think that the UV sun umbrellas would have worked even better.

If you only have one special plant that you need to shield from the sun and don't mind being a little quirky in the garden and can find a way to hold it down in a breeze, then maybe a sun umbrella will suffice!

G4Free UPF 50+ UV Protection Large Travel Umbrella 42/46 Inch Auto Open Close Windproof Sun Blocking UmbrellaCheck Price

Shade Netting or Cloth

This is specialised netting, very dense tight netting or cloth that gives really good shade, many around 40% to 90% shade and is UV resistant and has good airflow. It is this UV resistance and airflow that differentiates this from all the other shade materials I tried. My plants seemed really happy with this one.

I went for a higher percentage shade as I really needed to protect the plants from the strong, intense sunshine we were getting but still to allow some light through to them.

It was easy to lay over the plants and easy to work with. I simply secured it via bamboo stakes. As I take it off every evening I don't want it as a permanent structure.

The airflow was better using this than with the other shading methods and the plants felt cooler underneath it.

For cleaning I just rinsed it with a watering can, or a hosepipe would be fine. It didn't really get very dirty.

Some shade cloths or mesh are better quality than others and some more sturdy than others. I did not leave mine out in very windy conditions but in a breeze it was fine. If you intend to leave it out in windy weather then you will need to buy a more sturdy version. For my needs a more simple option was fine. I have included a variety below for you to consider.

JOJOLEE 70% Sun Shade Cloth, 10x20FT Shade Net Mesh Tarp with GrommetsCheck Price 90% Shade Cloth for Garden -12 x 20 FT Durable Mesh Tarp with GrommetsCheck Price QLOFEI Shade Cloth for Garden, 70% Sun Screens for Patio Pergola OutdoorCheck Price

How To Use Shading Materials

Know where the sun is strongest in your garden at what time of day. Unless you have a lot of shading materials you may need to move it around during the day. We have one area that is south facing all day it is hot so the shading stays there. However I move the East and West facing shading around the garden as needed just once a day as the sun moves around. I also take it all off at night.

We have a lot of birds in our garden and one of my concerns was that they might get trapped in the material so I checked it regularly and took it off at night.

I secured the material as much as possible and as taught as possible, so that it did not flap about in any breeze or allow spaces birds could get into it easily

I did my best to keep it away from the plants by using bamboo poles and sticks or hoops just to raise it above the foliage. This allows better airflow around the plants and keeps it off the leaves and flowers.

I didn't do this, but you can make retractable awnings which are very useful for raised beds or larger containers or make a more permanent structure by hanging it and then rolling up and down as you need it.

Although I love the long days and light nights this summer has been challenging as a gardener. At times I have felt like it is more simply keeping the plants alive rather than helping them to thrive. If we are going to get more summers like this one I know that my gardening strategies, habits and routines are going to have to change including what I grow and how to best shade my plants.

I do think that of all the shading I tried for plants that cannot be moved into the shade of a tree or shrub, the Shade netting is the best due the the UV protection, airflow and ease of cleaning. For now I am glad we are reaching autumn soon and can look forward to cooler days and hopefully some rain!!