Guide to Using Shade Cloth
How to Choose the Right Shade Cloth for Your Garden or Greenhouse
Choosing the right shade cloth can make all the difference in protecting your crops from heat stress and sun damage. Whether you're growing tomatoes in a hoop house or nurturing tender greens through peak summer, matching your shade cloth to your crops and climate is key.
This quick-reference guide will help you determine the appropriate shade percentage for your setup, plus tips on sizing, installation, and choosing between black and white fabric. Let’s break it down so you can grow strong, stress-free plants all season long.
Why do I need shade cloth?
Shade cloths are an essential tool for a successful growing season. They are usually made of woven polypropylene fabric and can be added to any structure. The main function of shade cloth is to protect the plants. The light diffusion percentage is chosen based on the plant's light needs and the local climate.
Shade cloth not only provides UV protection, but it also:
- Helps to keep your greenhouse cool
- Improves plant ventilation
- Reduces water usage
- Decreases plant stress
- Increases productivity
Plants can reduce the amount of excess light energy they absorb, which can cause cell damage and sunburn.
What % shade cloth do I need?
This is a general guide; you can also get valuable advice from local growers who know your specific climate better than we do.
| Shade Cloth Percentage | Zone/Crops |
| 30 | Northern climates/mixed Veggies |
| 50 | Lettuce, flowers, tomatoes, mixed crops, and
most vegetables
|
| 60 | Ornamentals/succulents |
| 70 | Light-sensitive plants |
What size shade cloth do I need?
To figure out the sizing, measure the length and width of your structure. When measuring for a greenhouse, avoid making the measurements too long to prevent overhang on the end walls. Overhang may impede doors, vents, and fans. The cloth only needs to cover the top down to the hip board.
Watch the video below to learn more about how to size your structure for shade cloth.
Choosing Black or White Shade Cloth
Whether you choose a black or white-colored shade fabric will depend on several factors:
-
White shade cloth reflects light, making for a cooler environment for the plants. White shade fabric is better suited for warmer climates and flowering and fruiting plants.
- Black shade cloth absorbs light while blocking excess. Black shade cloth is better for those growing heat-loving crops, such as tomatoes and peppers, and those in colder climates that benefit from more solar gains in the shoulder season.
Other Types of Shade Cloth
Aluminum shade cloth offers the highest level of heat reflection and is ideal for extremely hot climates or sensitive crops prone to heat stress. It reflects both light and radiant heat, keeping structures cooler than black or white fabric.
While more expensive, aluminum shade cloth is often used in commercial greenhouses for its superior cooling efficiency and light diffusion. Flower farmers love it for extending the spring bloom season, which requires cooler temperatures.
Monofilament shade cloth is ideal for covering a structure during peak summer heat without a plastic covering underneath. Other characteristics include that it:
- Doesn’t stretch
- Is stronger than tape shade cloth
- Is less affected by the wind
- Can be pulled tighter across the structure
- Can install over bare hoops without plastic
- Good for use in warmer climates when you don’t want plastic, but just want shade
- Great for 4' low tunnels with clamps.
How to Install Shade Cloth
Installing shade cloth is straightforward with the right tools. Whether you’re covering a hoop house or a low tunnel, the goal is to keep the fabric tight and secure to prevent flapping or sagging.
For hoop houses:
- Attach the cloth using
shade cloth clips on each corner and every three feet along the sides. These clips grip tightly without tearing the fabric and include a loop for tying off with rope or attaching hardware like bolt snaps or eye connectors.
- Use spring wire and a lock channel along the hip board or peak to secure the fabric. Read about the benefits of lock channels and spring wire here.
For low tunnels:
- Drape the cloth over the hoops and secure it with snap clamps that grip the EMT conduit tightly.
- Weigh down the edges with sandbags.
Watch the video below for a full walkthrough of shade cloth installation on a hoop house.
How long does shade cloth last?
Shade cloths are a great investment. When properly maintained, can last up to 16 years.