How to Add Pergola Sun Shade to Your Backyard

Pergolas are great for outdoor seating or dining spaces but often don’t provide enough shade. Adding a pergola sun shade is an easy way to protect your backyard from the elements and create a more comfortable space.

There are many options for a pergola shade, including fabric covers and walls or screens. Learn more about the different ways to add a pergola shade and find inspiration for your backyard.

Fabric

A pergola is a simple, attractive garden structure that features a wood frame with rafters and posts. It usually has an open, slatted roof that offers a pleasant environment and shade. To make the area more useful and comfortable, you can add a cover to the rafters for added protection from sunlight. These covers can come in a variety of fabrics, and you can alter them to fit your specific needs and aesthetic preferences.

Canvas awnings are an attractive option for modern pergolas, as they offer a minimalist look that works well with contemporary home styles. They also shield from rain, sun, and strong winds, making them a practical choice for most climates. You can install these covers during construction or afterward.

Another easy way to create a pergola sun shade is by covering the rafters with a solid fabric. You can use either a cotton or polyester material for this purpose, depending on your preferences. Cotton is breathable, which helps to prevent overheating. It also allows hot air to vent out, keeping the space cool and comfortable. Polyester is more durable than cotton, and it resists fading.

Another way to shade a pergola is by using backyard plants. For example, you can plant climbing roses on the sides of your structure to provide shade and beautify the space. You can also place foliage plants in pots and hang them from the side of your structure to soften its lines.

Retractable Canopy

A pergola with a retractable canopy offers the flexibility to change the amount of shade it provides as the sun moves through the pergola sun shade sky. This type of awning also lets rainwater pass through so that it doesn’t pool on the fabric, which helps extend its life.

If you plan on using your pergola for entertaining, a motorized retractable canopy may be worth the investment because it allows you to set your desired level of privacy with the touch of a button. However, if you don’t have the mechanical expertise to build one yourself, hiring a professional installer is recommended.

The DIY version of a pergola canopy with a retractable roof is fairly simple to build and can be used on almost any outdoor structure. Depending on your needs, you can choose to install the canopy with a removable panel or a fixed panel with a retractable roof. Removable panels are a good option for people who like to decorate their outdoor spaces with flowers and plants because they can be removed easily.

To create a pergola canopy with a retractable awning, you’ll need to install two or more woven panel frames that fit together with a center strap eye. A rope pulley system can be added to make it easy to open and close the panels, but you can also sew webbing onto a strap to manually move the canopy. Quality products that are available today use solution-dyed acrylic fabrics from companies such as Para, Dickson and Sunbrella. These are waterproof and can also repel heat, glare and dirt while allowing air to circulate through.

Walls or Screens

A pergola’s grid of beams offers shade at certain angles, but it doesn’t protect you from the hot noonday sun. Consider a cover for your structure to give you more pergola sun shade coverage as you relax under its open sky. A durable, stylish cover can also add a focal point that draws your eye throughout the space.

A traditional top for your pergola works well, but you can also attach a retractable awning style canopy. This allows you to draw the shade over the area when it’s needed and retract it back against a building or over the rafters to allow sunlight in where you want it.

Another option is to add walls or screens for your pergola. This can block out pesky bugs, shield you from the wind, and enhance your privacy while keeping the sun off your outdoor seating area. Unlike a permanent fence, these panels are easy to remove and switch around as your needs change.

You can even take your shade idea to the next level by using a screen that doubles as an umbrella. These panels have louvers that open and close to shade your space, and they come in a wide range of colors and shades so you can find the one that suits your patio’s decor. They’re made from water resistant materials, so they won’t tear or crack in the elements like traditional fabric would.

Climbing Plants

If you want to add a bit of greenery to your pergola, consider planting vines that can grow rapidly and provide shade. The perennial clematis is a good choice as it thrives in most climates, grows in a variety of colors and produces beautiful flowers that can cover your pergola. However, it takes a few growing cycles for it to bloom, so it is best planted in early spring.

Another popular option is the fast-growing ivy. This self-clinging vine is easy to maintain, thriving in most soils and growing well in both direct sunlight and partial shade. Boston ivy (Hedera helix) has lush green leaves that can cover a pergola, turning it into an intimate garden space. Golden hops (Humulus lupulus) is another fast-growing vine that can quickly create a shade canopy and provides a stunning privacy screen.

For a more tropical touch, consider the bower vine (Cissus glomerata). This vine can ramble up to 25 feet long and produces a bundle of white and pink flowers in summer. It is ideal for people living in warmer year-round climates.

If you’re looking for something a little more exotic, try a passion flower vine (Passiflora elatior). These plants are hardy in a wide range of climates and thrive in full sun to partial shade. They produce gorgeous purple and white flowers that look like roses. Some varieties even bear orange fruits to extend the color palette.