choosing-shade-cloth-for-greenhouse

5 Things to Consider Before Choosing Shade Cloth for Greenhouse

Having a greenhouse ensures you grow your plants in any season. Greenhouses are helpful during hot days to cool plants. However, do you know which shade fabric works best for plants or what color is the best?

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Actually, there are a few considerations before you choose and buy the shade for your greenhouse. This guide will break it down by covering five things you should consider. By the end of this guide, you will make better decisions when choosing the shade cloth for your greenhouse.

1. What Color Shade is Best?

The color of the shade cloth affects the plant's growth. The color determines how the light rays penetrate and reach the plants. It's worth considering the type of plant you want and the intensity of light it needs. For instance, red and blue colored shade cloth is ideal for fruit yield and growth.

Light colors reflect the sun's rays, while darker colors allow the light spectrum to scatter inside. When buying your shade cloth, you can seek assistance about the appropriate color for your plants.

2. Which Fabric Type is Reliable?

The common types of shade cloths are woven and knitted. The knitted shade cloth is lightweight, UV resistant, easy to install, and resists unraveling and damage by wind. Knitted fabrics are ideal for greenhouses, shade, and hot houses.

The woven shade cloth is heavier, making it suitable for patios and offering plants solar protection. Besides, it provides more protection from sun exposure and is made purely from polypropylene. So, choose the fabric that best aligns with your goals.

3. What's Its Shade Percentage?

Density is a crucial factor to consider before purchasing a shade cloth. The density indicates the percentage of sunlight the given shade cloth allows to penetrate it. Different plants require different shade densities.

A 30% shade density works best with vegetables and fruits. Ideally, heat-tolerant plants can be shielded with such a shade cloth. So, choose the 30% density for the specific fabric type if your greenhouse is for tomatoes or other vegetables.

For dark green vegetables, such as kale, consider using 60% density. Flowering plants can do well with 40 to 50% shade density. Research the recommended shade density for your plants before buying the shade cloth.

4. Coverage Size and Sail Shape

What size is your greenhouse coverage area? You can have shade cloth of different lengths. Therefore, ensure you have the measurements for the dimensions of areas where you want to shield your plants.

If the area is extensive, you may buy two or more shade cloths to accommodate the large size. Also, after knowing the size, you can know which sail shape is best for your case. For instance, you can choose a triangle sail if it's a small area.

Still, you can decide whether the greenhouse should be covered on specific sides or entirely. Such factors are vital in knowing which shade cloth will work seamlessly.

5. What is My Budget?

Shade cloths differ in price, depending on the area you buy them, the fabric, sail shape, density, etc. So, before you search for the best shade cloth for your case, understand your budget. How much do you plan to spend purchasing the shade cloth?

Working with a budget will help you select the best shade cloth in terms of fabric and density that meet your budget range.

Where to Buy Shade Cloth

Despite knowing the factors to consider before purchasing a shade cloth, many people still fail to decide where they should buy it. You can find various physical stores near your location selling different shade cloth. If so, check with them if they have the shade cloth you need and ensure you follow the abovementioned factors.

Before you conclude buying the shade cloth from the physical store, search for online stores to compare the prices and types. The nearby stores often have the highest prices. Plenty of online stores sell shade cloths for greenhouses at lower prices.

Reputable stores include eBay, Amazon, AliExpress, Alibaba, Green House Megastore, etc. The online stores are multiple; you can check each to see their shipping prices and other factors. Furthermore, check the brand's reputation to see what other customers say about it. That way, you can know whether the brand is reliable and trustworthy.

If you are looking to buy shade cloth in bulk and want an option that lets you get advice from professionals, consider visiting a shade cloth manufacturer. Here's the thing, the best shade cloth manufacturers are found in countries like China. However, the hassle is worth it as they offer the best quality at affordable prices.

Moreover, most manufacturers, like INSONSHADE, have a website where you can interact with their products. As part of conducting due diligence, visit the manufacturer's website and check their blogs, products, FAQs, contact, and other crucial information.

Once you are comfortable that the manufacturer can deliver what you need, contact them and proceed with the other details. A manufacturer is your best option for getting quality and in-bulk shade cloth, and they can even deliver fabric samples to guarantee that you get the best fabrics for your case.

Conclusion

There are a few factors to consider before you choose the best shade cloth for your greenhouse. You should check on your budget, the fabric type, the color of the shade cloth, the coverage area, and the shade density. Moreover, you should decide where to get the best shade cloth. This guide has covered all details to consider. Hopefully, you can now confidently buy your shade cloth for your greenhouse.

About the Author Laura Bennett

Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.

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