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How to create shade in your garden

Ideas for creating shade in your garden, inspired by show gardens at RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026

With the UK and the rest of Europe experiencing another heatwave, our gardens need to work even harder to provide the perfect outdoor space. In previous years, we craved sunny patios where we could soak up the sunshine. With climate predictions suggesting things will get even hotter, many of us are looking for ways to create cooler, shaded areas, and the show gardens at RHS Badminton offer innovative and practical ideas to inspire you. 

Pergolas

A pergola (often mistakenly called a pagoda, which is an East Asian tower structure) can be built in a range of styles using wood or metal. Steel structures tend to be more expensive but last longer and provide a strong architectural feature in the garden. Plant scented climbers at their base and take refuge from the heat beneath.

A striking pergola with climbing roses is the central focus on the Honing Heritage Garden
If you have awkward corners in your garden, they could make the perfect shady spot for seating. Timber can be used to create bespoke structures to fit the space. You can buy pergola kits or have a go at building your own.

A bespoke wooden pergola making the most of the space on A Space for Her garden
Often seen in Mediterranean gardens, willow or bamboo screens can be suspended between posts to create a simple but effective shaded area. These roll-out mats are reasonably priced (around £30), or you could use materials from your own garden tied together for a more handcrafted look.

A simple and affordable woven screen giving gentle shade on the Electuary garden
Shade sails have become increasingly popular and are available in a wide range of shapes, materials, sizes and colours to suit every style. Blue or white shades complement a coastal theme, while bright yellow or orange can add a vibrant splash of colour to a green space. Fasten them securely and take them down if strong winds are forecast to avoid damage.

A woven shade sail on the Ruskin Mill Trust garden
Don’t forget to add water to lower temperatures in your garden. A simple bowl water feature can make a big difference and will provide a cooling drink for the wildlife too.

Water and a shady spot under trees are the perfect combination on The Julia Rausing Garden
Tree canopies

Gardens start and end with plants, so think first about what you can plant for the long term to create shade in your garden. Multi-stemmed specimens are readily available from nurseries and provide an instant cooling effect on the ground beneath them. Their branching form also offers screening, so try placing them in different locations before deciding where to plant them to provide the best shade during the hottest part of the day.

Multi-stemmed hazel trees are perfect for small spaces, seen on The Split Hazel Basketry Garden
You could choose one special specimen as a focal point for the garden. Think of it as an investment for the future as we face increasingly variable weather. Alongside shade, trees provide habitats for wildlife, year-round interest and a range of planting conditions beneath their canopies.

If you have inherited mature trees, seek professional advice before considering any drastic pruning, as you may come to value the shade they provide as our climate changes. Crown lifting can create space for planting underneath or provide room for a seating area or simple bench.

Crown lifted trees shade seating and planting on The Julia Rausing Garden
Rows of smaller trees create a lovely dappled shade effect in a garden. Use them to lead visitors along a path or plant them in a circle to create a shady seating area. Remember to keep an eye on trees for any signs of stress during extreme weather and water them regularly while they become established.

White stemmed birch trees dapple the path with shade in The Nascent Shade Garden
Trees are the key

Data compiled by the RHS indicates there are roughly 30 million domestic gardens across the UK. If homeowners across the country incorporate even small, canopy-rich woodland pockets, the potential to recover lost green infrastructure is massive.

Rachael Austin, designer of the Ruskin Mill Trust garden, in the shade of a woven canopy
Rachael Austin, designer of The Ruskin Mill Trust Artisan Woodland Craft Garden, said that the aim of the garden is to show that everyone can do their bit to combat extreme weather by transforming their personal green spaces into cooling, resilient havens: “With heatwaves becoming the norm, we want to show people that woodland and tree shade is the perfect, accessible place to cool down. By mimicking these natural ecosystems at home, British gardeners can collectively pioneer a massive network of localised climate control.” 

With urban areas increasingly suffering from the “heat island” effect, this Artisan garden highlights a vital scientific reality: mature trees and woodland canopies can cool pedestrian-level air temperatures and surrounding areas by up to 10°C to 12°C, making them the ultimate natural escape as weekend temperatures set up to spike.
Dappled shade provided by a steel pergola on Silo: All that comes in remains 
A covered porch the perfect shady spot on The Cricket Pavilion Garden

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