Umbrellas and canopies

For your compact areas, such as a courtyard or deck, seek versatile shade that doubles as a design feature or can cleverly disappear. “Beach and market umbrellas can offer instant shade and a fashionable pop of colour,” says garden designer and horticulturalist Lyndall Keating of Garden Society. “However, without a sturdy base they won’t withstand wind.” For a solution that’s more robust, Jason Jamieson, the director of Total Shade Solutions, suggests motorised folding arm awnings and retractable canopies, which allow for shade by day and stars by night. Alternatively, a fixed patio roof provides permanent coverage in all weather conditions. To soften an outdoor seating area, Lyndall suggests training plants over an arbour. Slatted timber and laser-cut screens also aid in filtering direct sunlight, while having a densely planted vertical garden can help boost natural insulation.