Cool Ideas for Hot Summer Days

By Debbie Arrington
Guest Writer

Your backyard can be your summer oasis. But how can you make it feel cool (or cooler) with less water (and no pool)?

Longtime landscape consultant, educator, and designer Cheryl Buckwalter of Landscape Liaisons has had plenty of hands-on experience capturing backyard cool during the heat of a Sacramento summer. Her advice: Start by valuing shade.

In particular, trees make a huge and measurable difference in how hot your backyard feels. Tree-shaded surfaces can be 20 to 45 degrees F. cooler than surfaces in direct sun, according to the International Society of Arboriculture and its TreesAreGood.org website.

Buckwalter recently tested the sun vs. shade difference at her own home. With the help of an infrared thermometer, she measured the temperature of her home’s exposed aggregate concrete driveway. In the sun, the driveway was 109 degrees F. With dappled shade from a nearby tree, it was 85 degrees F.

Shade can save money, too, she notes. “Planted on the south- and west-facing sides of your home, trees can reduce energy consumption, thus cost. If heating and cooling (HVAC) equipment is located in your backyard, shading it with a tree means that it doesn’t run as much, resulting in a quieter backyard experience.”

Trees take time to grow. In the meantime, create some instant shade.

“Umbrellas are a fast and less expensive way for instant shade,” Buckwalter says. “For more permanent options for shade, while your plants are maturing, a variety of cooling options exist, such as retractable awnings that come in a variety of colors. There are many styles of pergolas and overhead structures available in various price ranges, in a variety of materials and options, such as wood, vinyl or metal.”

Trees aren’t the only plants that help keep us cooler, she adds. “Trees, shrubs, ground covers, etc., lower air temperatures through evapotranspiration, a process in which they take up water up through their roots and transpire it from their leaves in combination with loss of water (evaporation) from the soil.

“Think about the psychological benefits of plants,” Buckwalter says. “I’m not a scientist, but I know that, when I’m walking down a tree-lined street, I feel happier, cooler, and more energetic as opposed to a street with few or no trees. Then I feel hot, move more slowly, and it’s not visually pleasing, so I want to get out of there.”

When it comes to creating coolness, a little water can go a long way.

“There’s nothing like a water feature (such as a fountain) to provide the sense of coolness on a hot summer day,” Buckwalter says. “Fountains should recirculate water and use a solar-powered pump for water and energy savings. Fountains also provide a year-round source of water for birds, bees, and other garden life.”

Even a small tabletop fountain can have an impact; the sound of bubbling water helps us feel cooler.

Color also plays a role in both plants and decorations, as well as mulch, walls and hardscape.

“When it comes to color in the garden, softer colors such as blues, violet, and, of course, greens all have a cooling and calm effect,” Buckwalter notes. “The cooling effect of softer colors can be repeated in such features as outdoor furniture, pillows, area rugs, decorative containers, and fences and walls.”

Avoid dark colors; they absorb heat and can make a space feel hotter. Skip black mulch; it can bake plant roots. So do large cobbles or large swaths of concrete hardscape, which hold heat. Instead, opt for natural wood chips for mulch and decomposed granite or gravel for paths.

“Can you envision you, your family, and friends gathering on the backyard patio, sitting in comfy furniture with lovely potted plants around you, enjoying the cooling temperature provided by your overhead shade structure and a nearby shade tree?” Buckwalter says. “Now that’s how to beat the heat and stay cooler during Sacramento’s hot, hot, hot summers.”

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Remember: Water in the morning

Keep your plants Summer Strong by watering in the morning, says landscape expert Cheryl Buckwalter. It’s good for the garden – and the gardener.

“The simple truth is that watering your garden in the early morning is optimal,” she says. “Watering in the morning allows trees and plants to take up water through their roots, becoming hydrated so they are better prepared for the heat of the day.”

There’s less evaporation in the early morning, she adds. “Also, we stay cooler, too! This time of day is often peaceful. Along with hand watering, giving trees and plants a good, deep soaking, it becomes a pleasurable experience.”

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Debbie Arrington is a longtime home and garden reporter and co-author of the blog Sacramento Digs Gardening: https://sacdigsgardening.californialocal.com/