The joy of having your own garden is particularly great in summer. At least it is possible here to enjoy the beautiful weather in private,the home office outdoorsto relocate and spend family dinners away from the dining room. As beautiful as the sun is, it is important to protect yourself from its rays. There are a variety of options for different budgets and needs. Which one suits your individual case? Here garden owners get an initial overview.
Why sun protection at all?
The summer sun can be very strong. This not only increases the risk of unpleasant sunburn, skin cancer and premature skin aging. It is also simply unpleasant to spend time in the garden in the blazing sun. Depending on the location, extreme heat can quickly develop, making it impossible to stay comfortably. Since summers in Germany have been getting hotter and sunnier for some time, this problem is likely to get worse.According to weather expertsthe number of hours of sunshine increases and lies
- 2018 at 2015
- 2019 at 1834
- and 2020 at 1896.
Added to this is the fact that sun protection also relieves strain on the eyes thanks to its shading function. Anyone who likes to sit in the garden with a good book, a tablet or even a notebook will hardly be able to enjoy it without sun protection. This therefore applies especially to all those who would like to set up an “outdoor home office”.
However, anyone who wants to plan sun protection for their own garden faces a major challenge. After all, there are numerous ways to keep the sun's rays away. The tool is available online for an overview and an individual view of the situation in your own gardenShadowfinder, in which different solutions can be compared.
Those interested can find a compact overview of four of these solutions, ranging from cheap and flexible to slightly more expensive and complex:
The sun sail: Simple solution with a flexible structure
A sun sail can be integrated into the garden in many different ways. What matters here is how much space is available, whether a certain area is always shaded and whether the sail should remain permanently outside. If you want a permanent solution, you can hang awnings using sturdy posts and leave them hanging throughout the season. However, during storms and thunderstorms, it is usually advisable to roll up the awning to avoid damage.
As an alternative to permanently installed sails, there are flexible solutions in which the sails can be tied to specific anchor points as required. This is worthwhile, for example, if there are areas in the garden where sun protection is only needed sporadically. The sun sail can then be attached to trees, the house wall or even the garden fence and removed again in the evening. This solution is usually the cheapest when it comes to sun protection for the garden.
Parasol: Don't skimp on quality
Parasols are the classic sun protection solutions for private gardens. They can be purchased practically anywhere and set up flexibly in the garden. However, it is also clear that good umbrellas are not cheap. Anyone who saves on quality and opts for particularly inexpensive models will often find that they last a maximum of one season and wear out quite quickly.
In order to make you happy over the long term, a parasol should have a solid stand and a high-quality, stable frame. It is also important that the umbrella is easy to use on a daily basis and can be folded up quickly in the event of a storm or thunderstorm. Crank systems are proving to be particularly popular here.
What is important before deciding on an umbrella is to take a closer look at the space available in the garden. The space required is often underestimated, especially with larger umbrellas, which can be problematic when unfolding and setting up. With large umbrellas, flexibility is also more limited, which is why they are usually in a fixed location. It is all the more important to choose a model that meets your individual needs in terms of both quality and appearance.
The awning: A good idea for space savers
The awning is not exactly cheap, but is an exciting option for small gardens and terraces. Compared to parasols, where a significant area is blocked due to the stand, the awning only needs a little space on the house wall. There are various models here, from articulated arm to cassette awnings to sleeve awnings, which is why you should always make a careful comparison before making your own decision.
Anyone who already uses smart home solutions inside their own home could be very happy with an awning. For some manufacturers, this can be linked to the existing system and then controlled digitally.
For long-term satisfaction with an awning, it is important that it is well adapted to the conditions at the location and can also withstand wind and, if necessary, keep out rain. When it comes to colors, the selection of awnings is quite large. Depending on the version, brand and model, the costs are in the mid four-digit range.
Pergola: Creative, but quite complex
A pergola is the dream of many homeowners. This is an extension that is made of either wood or metal and can therefore provide permanent sun protection. Planting on a pergola is very popular, so that the cultivation can be integrated into thegreen design of the terraceinserts.
It is of course important to know that it can take a few years until the pergola has grown over enough to provide solid sun protection. But there are now solutions for this too. For example, connecting a pergola with sun sails, which can be flexibly opened and closed.
Overall, the costs for a solid pergola equipped with sun protection, including installation, are usually in the high four-digit, if not five-digit range. Since this is a permanent solution, theHowever, it is worth the investment.
Whether a pergola is suitable for your own garden does not just depend on personal taste. In the case of permanent buildings, the respective building law at the location is also important. Not every settlement allows you to set up a pergola near property boundaries. This can be particularly problematic for owners of mid-terrace houses. This requires thorough clarification in advance.
Image source: unsplash.com; elements.envato.com
