Shade cloth comes in percentages ranging from 5% (most sunlight gets through) all the way up to 95% (most sunlight is blocked). So, a 30% shade cloth would reduce sunlight penetration by 30%, so that 70% of sunlight gets through.Ī higher density of shade cloth means that a higher percentage reduction in sunlight penetration. The percentage of shade cloth tells us how much the sunlight penetration is reduced. The higher the density, the less sunlight will be allowed through. The density of shade cloth tells us how thickly woven the material is. The University also suggests that wetting shade cloth will make it more effective at reducing heat. “A 50% shade reduced radiation about 10☏.” The reduction in temperature will depend on the density (percentage) of the shade cloth and the intensity of the sunlight.įor example, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst: Shade cloth can reduce temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) or more. How Much Does Shade Cloth Reduce Temperature? However, shade cloth can provide even more protection in some cases. “Shade cloth can lower air temperatures within a high tunnel by as much as 6-9☏.” According to the Iowa State University Extension: You can also wrap shade cloth over an existing greenhouse or high tunnel to provide protection when the sun gets too hot and bright. Vertical shade cloth can be mounted between rows, and it does not have to be set up as high as a horizontal cover. However, you can place the cloth so that it protects plants from the sun’s harshest rays (afternoon sun). Vertical – this method provides protection only during part of the day.However, the cloth has to be mounted high above the plants, or else you will have to duck underneath it to work on your plants (to water, fertilize, pull weeds, and harvest). Horizontal – this method provides sun protection for your plants all day long.Of course, there are a few different ways to use shade cloth, depending on how much protection your plants need: On the other hand, cool-weather crops such as lettuce may need protection early in the season to prevent bolting or bitter leaves. Unless the leaves on your plants are getting burned, wait until you see fruit start to set on tomatoes, and peppers to use shade cloth. You might want to wait until your plants start to produce fruit before using shade cloth. In some cases, you might want to hold off on using shade cloth to give your plants more sunlight during the early stages of growth. Plants can grow under shade cloth, but they will receive less sunlight (the reduction in sunlight depends on the density – more on this later). The ideal temperature for tomatoes to ripen is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius), so shade cloth is helpful when temperatures soar into the 80s or 90s Fahrenheit. For example, shade cloth helps to keep tomatoes cool if the weather becomes too warm for them to ripen naturally. Shade cloth works to reduce both air temperature and fruit surface temperature. In many cases, using shade cloth increased yield and produced higher-quality fruit.

The University also reports that some fruit was 20 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius) cooler under shade cloth than out in the open sun.

Strong solar radiation (intense sunlight without shade).

According to the Utah State University Extension, sunburn is common on fruit in areas with: Shade cloth also protects plant leaves and fruit from sunburn (sunscald) damage.

Shade cloth can prevent leaf burn and sunscald (we can see a spot of sunscald on this tomato).

That means it can be used for several years if you use it and care for it properly, so you won’t need to repurchase it every year. The strength of shade cloth depends on the density and material, but overall it is fairly durable. “Shade cloth is made from knitted polyethylene strands or woven polyester and is water permeable.” What Is Shade Cloth Made Of?Īccording to the Iowa State University Extension: Shade cloth can help to prevent this damage to plants – but how does it work? Let’s take a closer look to find out. These high temperatures can damage plants by drying out their leaves or burning their fruit. When the sun is strong in the height of summer, its rays will raise temperatures by quite a bit. (Shade cloth can also be used to provide shade on a patio to protect people from sunburn, but we’ll stick to the agricultural uses in this article). Image from Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of T.

Sun screen shade fabric