It doesn’t take long living in the southwest deserts to appreciate shade. Whether it is searching for the elusive parking space under a tree, or longing for some shade in your back yard, shade of any kind becomes a priority. While nothing is quite a nice as a large shade tree, it takes at least 10 years to grow a tree large enough to sit or walk under. Certainly it is advisable to plant shade trees, but what do you do in the interim? You don’t have to wait for years to have shade. While your trees mature, why not make shade you can use right now?
Build a Shade Structure
A ramada is a great way to have instant shade, and depending on the materials you choose, the structure can be formal or very casual.
If you are handy in construction, build your own ramada. There are kits and plans readily available online. If you choose to use a contractor, make sure you have in writing exactly what materials they will use and a firm price before you sign on the dotted line.
The location of your ramada should not interfere with the eventual size of your trees. As you probably already recognize; one can never have too much shade, so even when your tree is grown you will most likely still sit under your ramada.
Roofing Material Options
The type of roof gives you options for how much shade is created. A solid roof, of course, creates the densest shade, but is also the most expensive. For filtered shade you can opt for natural materials such as ocotillo staves or sahuaro ribs. Redwood lattice also provides filtered shade. Filtered shade will not be enough during the hottest part of the summer, but it is often just right the rest of the year.
Another material option for the roof is shade cloth or outdoor fabrics. Shade cloth comes in many different sun filtering options. For example, 30% shade cloth means 70% of the suns rays will come through. Outdoor fabrics create denser shade, and also give you the option of adding a splash of color to your back yard. Outdoor fabrics have a wide array of colors and patterns to choose from.
What about Support Posts?
The support system for your roof must be sturdy so high winds don’t topple the structure. Options include 4 by 4 redwood or cedar posts, peeled pine posts, mesquite trunks and more. Using concrete footers is optional, as long as you bury posts at least 3 feet, but using concrete is recommended just in case.
A small shade structure is simple to build, but if you are looking for something larger it is probably a good idea to hire an experienced contractor. The larger the structure, the more important and complicated the support system becomes.
Outdoor Seating Ideas Beyond the Traditional
Planting a Desert Fragrance Garden
Desert Landscaping Using Landscape Glass