ideas for shading potted hostas

15 years ago

I just got back from a fruitless run to the Goodwill Store looking for small umbrellas and/or parasols to prop up around some of my hostas. I had to remove a very large tree last week, and places which were hosta friendly are now getting just too much sun.

I have been trying to think (HA!!!) of reasonably attractive interesting things to do to add shade, but nothing has come to me so far. At the moment I have an old bedspread hung over a tall 3-fold trellis and it's going to be helpful against the late afternoon sun that the tree used to block out, but it does make the front yard look a bit untidier than even I am comfortable with.

I did move all of my mice (Blue, Frosted, Dancing, Snow and Mighty) up onto a covered deck, but for the bigger ones, I'm stuck.

Got any suggestions?

Susan

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Comments (10)

bkay2000
15 years ago
Do a search. Someone (not too long ago) lost a large japanese maple. She was searching for remedies and many ideas were offered. Her's were in the ground and I think she was in St. Louis. Kites were suggested. She also decided on using Sweet Autumn Clematis as part of her solution. That should give you enough to search on.

Good Luck

bkay
jodikay
15 years ago
Susan, we lost all of our trees to oak wilt and now I have none. So, after much pleading, my husband built a pergola. Here are a couple of pictures. It isn't perfect but it is better than nothing. Good luck finding an alternative.

Jodi
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
thats some impressive lattice work jody ...

when it starts rotting.. use something like the link.. and then attach to your structure with these:

http://www.amleo.com/poly-clips-bag-of-25/p/P801/

when you have a freckled red head.. you do things like this for you child.. hosta be damned .. lol ...

ken

those are the clips right in the picture.. been standing there for about 8 years.. all year round ....
{{gwi:250981}}

Here is a link that might be useful: scroll down for 50 to 60% shade
thisismelissa
15 years ago
Not kites, Shade Sails (google it for more pics)

They're not cheap, but it could be a good solution for ya!
landperson
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone. The shade sails look great. I'm gonna do some more research on them. Looks to me as if they can be moved around as circumstances change, and that appeals to me since I am forever rearranging the yard/garden/property.

Nite
Susan
landperson
Original Author
15 years ago
I have made a couple of arches using cattle panels. Ken's picture made me think I can get some shade cloth and stitch it over either cattle panels or even just concrete reinforcing wire to make moveable shady arches.....Well, the cattle panel ones are too big to be moveable, but if I use concrete wire to make arches, they should be pretty mobile. Hmmmm....

Tomorrow I will go material gathering...
Susan
ci_lantro
15 years ago
Maybe something involving Hyacinth Bean? I grew this one year and let it run up an antenna tower. Very pretty, esp. when it blooms. I started it indoors and, even in my zone, it got Huge. Needs a very sturdy structure for support.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hyacinth Bean
hostaLes
15 years ago
Hyacinth Bean: durable, beautiful flowers and pods, and the prolific beans are edible.

Les
bettylu_zone6a
15 years ago
Hi, BettyLu chiming in here....

It is a little late in the season for vines to be of much help for you this year... but I just saw shade sails on clearance at overstock dot com today for about a 12' square one for under 30.00 and they come in several colors/sizes as well as a triangular shape.

I am going to measure when I get home from work tonight to see exactly where I can attach the shade sail (it comes with ropes and turnbuckles) I am really hoping that this solution will work out (it is SO CHEAP!) because I hate seeing my beautiful hostas so ratty looking so early in the season.

Meanwhile, my temporary solution of vines/tomato plants is working for this year (for the most part), and while I am loving the additional tomatoes I am harvesting, it is not such a pretty look! LOL!
User
15 years ago
The real serious shade sails are quite expensive, because they come with some serious poles to keep them secure. If you want something less expensive, then the ones from Overstock should work for a year or so.

We took out five 100' tall pine trees a couple of years ago, 1 water oak, and 1 sweet gum, both pretty big, so we ended up with a hot yard too. Little arbors, little pergolas, a couple of posts strategically placed to maximize shade and vines, and umbrellas is all something that can be done. But nothing replaces the shade of a big tree, does it.