Like a lot of homeowners, you value your time outside and want to spend as much time in your outdoor spaces as possible. But you don’t feel like baking in the sun. If you have a sunny property, you might find it difficult to enjoy time outside before becoming hot and uncomfortable.

For that reason, you might be looking into plants that create shade.

One of the benefits of these types of plants is that they often also help you have some privacy. Northern Virginia homeowners are often looking for privacy solutions, and some of the best shade plants can sometimes do double duty.

In this article, we will talk about how to create a landscape design for shade. Making wise choices for your property will help enhance its functionality, enjoyment, and overall value.

Choosing the Best Shade Plants

Choosing the best plants to create shade boils down to how much shade you need and what areas of the property that you’d like to be shaded. This is important to talk through with a landscape designer.

For example, a Boxwood at 3 feet tall is typically not going to provide much in the way of shade unless perhaps they were planted as a hedge in a raised planter to provide some shade at a low angle to a deck.

In most cases, you’ll likely need a larger shade tree to create the shade that you desire.

But it will still depend on the angle of the sun and what area you’re trying to shade. There is a lot of strategic planning that goes into the precise placement of trees.

Some examples of the best trees for shade in Northern Virginia include the following.

• Columnar Hornbeam
• Columnar Ginkgo
• Columnar Parrotia
• Columnar ‘monumentale’ Sugar Maple

These trees will grow quite tall (as tall as 15-plus feet) and can be grouped together to create a hedge that will also give you privacy.

These are particularly great for smaller spaces or locations where height without massive width would be preferred. These are deciduous tree options, meaning they will shed their leaves or needles annually.

If you are looking for evergreen columnar options, you might consider some of the following choices.

• ‘Taylor’ Juniper
• American Pillar Arborvitae
• Emerald Green Arborvitae
• ‘Centennial Girl’ Holly
• ‘Emerald Colonnade’ Holly

Evergreen options do offer year-round interest and will not shed heavily like deciduous trees. If you are looking to also create privacy with your selection of the best shade plants, then an evergreen choice might be the best way to go.

If you are looking for larger shade trees, you might consider one of the following.

• Oak  Tree
• Elm Tree

These are large shade trees but you can prune the lower branches over time to maintain a specific-sized canopy. In addition, Redbud and Crape Myrtle trees are two ornamental flowering trees that can grow to be around 20 feet, making for aesthetically appealing options that can also offer shade.

Anytime you have larger plants or trees installed, you must consider their future size. You do not want to plant trees with extensive root systems too close to a patio. You also don’t want a shade tree to suddenly overcrowd the space that you have planned for it.

Making strategic planting decisions will help ensure that you are happy with the future locations of these plants.

Other Ideas for Landscape Design for Shade

There are other options that you can also consider to create shade. If you are looking for the best shade plants, don't discount vines and their ability to quickly grow and fill in a space.

Vines, particularly when paired with a structure like a pergola, can help create shade and privacy.

This can include Trumpet Vine (a Virginia native plant), climbing roses, and clematis. There are also Wisteria options such as Amethyst Falls American Wisteria, that are not as aggressive as Asian varieties but still offer beautiful blooms and coverage.

In general, these are aesthetically appealing options that are fast-growing and can fill in quickly to block the sun.

While fast-growing shade trees and other plants can help give you the shade that you want, it’s still going to take several years for them to fully fill in. For that reason, you might also want to consider shade structures.

Structures can be an excellent choice for creating shade. Structures like pergolas and pavilions don’t require waiting for anything to grow so they can be instant shade solutions.

Fabric shades and canopies can also be added to these structures to increase the shading capabilities.

Just like with plants, the strategic placement of these structures is important. If shade is one of your goals when creating a landscape design, then your landscape designer will want to keep in mind the location of the sun at different points of the day (as compared to when you will be spending time outside).

Even structures like fireplace hearths and chimneys can play a role in blocking the sun, depending on their location. It’s important that the precise locations of any structures on your property are thoroughly considered.

Again, these same structures can do double-duty by also playing a role in privacy screening.

Finally, don’t overlook the value of a strategically placed umbrella.

Umbrellas can also do a great job creating shade at a patio table. While you might be looking for a more significant, long-term solution, an umbrella might be a temporary fix while you wait for your fast-growing shade trees to fill in.

Today’s umbrellas have come a long way and many also offer UV protection. We have had clients add umbrellas to sitting areas or even to outdoor kitchens where they’ll be spending time cooking. Many of the outdoor umbrellas available today are aesthetic options that come in attractive colors.

There are also cantilever umbrella options that are great as the stand does not have to be in the center of your entertaining area. Cantilever umbrellas come in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Landscape Design and Planting in Northern VA

At the end of the day, most of these ideas come down to smart landscape design. That’s why it’s important to choose a landscaping company in Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA who puts strategic thought and planning into their designs.

After all, a tree that grows dense and tall, which could be excellent for creating shade, won’t fulfill your needs if the sun’s location is not thoughtfully considered for different times of the day.

As we’ve talked about many outdoor structures can provide multiple benefits, but only if strategic decisions are made. For instance, an outdoor fireplace might help create shade and privacy while also serving its main purpose of giving you light, heat, and ambiance…but only if its placement is thoughtfully considered.

By choosing the right company, you’ll be able to implement the best shade ideas for your property and feel confident that you’re happy with your choices.

Every property is different and will require a unique solution. It’s important that you choose a company that will make this their focus. By doing so, you can have the peace of mind that your outdoor living area is everything you need it to be.

If you’d like some guidance when it comes to creating shade in your backyard, request a consultation, get your customized plan, and relax while we transform your space into something you can fully enjoy.