Shade Coverage in Your Garden

Keep the Plants Shaded in your Garden

Now that June is here the temperatures are starting to heat up! Several of the cold weather crops I planted have been doing well this spring, and I’m hoping to extend the harvest a bit longer. Vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, peas, and radishes are just a few crops you can help keep cool with a shade covering. This is a fairly easy project to complete, and can be used throughout the growing season.

I like using PVC pipe in the garden because it’s a versatile and frugal way to build structures that can be easily taken down at the end of the season and stored for the next spring. This Shade Covering is a simple DIY project that you can do this week to help keep the temps cooler for your plants to grow!

Supplies Needed:

• PVC Pipe (Enough to make the desired measurements on the shade covering. My example is listed below.)
• (4) 3 Corner T PVC fitting
• Shade Fabric
• Zip Ties
• Conduit Fittings & wood screws
• PVC Pipe Cutter or Hack Saw

Step 1: Gather materials, mark off measurements on PVC pipe, and cut.

I wanted the Shade Covering to sit 36″ high,  48″ wide, and 48″ long so I marked them as following:

• (4) pieces 36″
• (4) pieces 48″

Use pipe cutter or handsaw to cut the pipes. **Use extreme caution and follow directions on how to use the cutter or saw!!**

Step 2: Attach PVC Piping to the sides of the raised bed

Pre-drill holes into the inside of the garden box and screw the conduit straps down just a little bit. Slide the (height section) pipe into the conduit strap. Once the pipe is in you can fasten the strap tightly. Repeat this step for all side of the shade covering.

Step 3: Assemble the top section and attach it to the vertical sides.

Step 4: Attached Shade Covering

Use the zip ties to attach the shade fabric to the top section of the PVC structure. I used one zip tie on each corner,  then one in the middle of the 48″ sections.

Step 5: Side Panel Option

We have a south facing garden so we get a lot of afternoon sunshine and it helps to have the south side of the shade covering to drop down. When I’m not needing the extra coverage, it can be rolled up easily and clipped together.

Easy as that! In all it took me about 40 minutes from start to finish and now I have a handy shade covering that will help my favorite veggies get some extra growing time!

Here are some other projects that I’ve completed in the garden using PVC pipe.

Bird Netting

Garden Trellis

Garden Trellis: Cantaloupe

Shade Fabric – $19.90

• This is a great solution that will provide 70% UV blockage
• Mold/mildew resistant which is ideal for the garden