I made a shade cloth out of "nylon" I bought 3 yards. I use it to shade sun for the little ones out playing in grass or sandbox. I also use one as a privacy fence to "practice my yoga" or exercise outdoors. You need 3 or more poles (dowels) add pockets at intervals across the width of material, add the dowel width pocket, a each yard. always adding a sewn in sem for each pole. Slie the pole into the material and insert them in ground at each interval.Roll up when not in use., tie with heavy string. Waterproof material is best. craftylady_MA.

You will still get six hours it will just be less light over the six hour period. Almost all areas of the country get too much sun and heat in the summer for any greenhouse. I see you have a HF. The smaller it is the hotter it is because it's harder to cool. 50% is the average shade cloth. Some people have to use more depending on what they grow.

Using 70% shade cloth would be best for most of the year. If you have to over winter anything, a poly covering can add and removed in the spring. Google 'free plant' which a site run by landscaper/propagator/nurseryman in northern Ohio, z6.

jb, Two articles in the "American Nurseryman", January 15 and February 15, 2002 publication, by Sven E. Svenson, professor at the North Willamette Research & Education Center, Oregon State University, Aurora has some very valuable information on shade. The articles are titled "Shady Business" and "Shady Business Part II". Part II is very good. You may be able to order reprints at (312)782-5505, Extension 305. Most interesting comments in the articles is the discussion of distinguishing the difference between shade and temperature. To use shade for shading plants and using shade to cool plants are two different subjects. When you shade for light intensity is one thing and when you shade for temperature is another thing. The articles mentioned above go into great detail on materials and color of shade cloth. Black shade cloth absorbs radiation and provides the most shade while white shade cloth allows more light (diffused light) and provides a cooler environment. If you are using shade cloth for cooling, the shade cloth should be suspended outside and above your house so heat can escape through the cloth. Mr. Svenson suggest two layers of shade cloth with four to twelve inches of space between layers of 30% woven black shade cloth and this would provide light reduction of a single layer of 50% shade cloth. It is very difficult to cool a house in the summer. I use fifty by seventeen foot hoop house's that are run east to west with 60% black shade cloth for shade plants. No plastic, the cloth is stretched over the frame with a five foot opening running the length on the north side and one foot opening running the south faced length. The openings allow ventilation. These shade houses use 2/3 less water and stay cool with good air movement. Hosta's love it! I have read of other studies that show an enclosed structure of shade cloth, no plastic on the structure, but just black shade fabric will accumulate heat. Hope thats a help, Bruce