Climate I just bit the bullet and ordered shade cloth for two sections of my garden after last year's temps

[Wildwood]

I hated to spend that much money but DH was really in favor of it. I got two 20 x 36 shade cloths. For one of them, I could have used a 20 x 25 but it was $20 more than the larger one and they are the same brand. I watched several YT videos with reviews and settled on a brand that was a little higher but more durable per two of my more respected channels. Last year all I had was some frost cloth which I used and it did help but not quite enough. Our neighbor had shade cloth and his tomatoes survived just fine. We had unrelenting temps with more days over 100 than not. Most of our days were actually over 105. We had that happen around twelve years ago and we got two years in a row like that.

I started to get 50% shade cloth but saw a video at the last minute that made a good case against using more than 40% and it made sense. They said more than 40% would block too much and prevent proper photosynthesis.

Here's the one I ended up getting: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010US4MM8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A2SV3OB16EMCVL&psc=1

 

[Martinhouse]

I have a couple at least of large pieces of shade cloth I bought for next to nothing several years ago when a nursery went out of business. (I think it was 2012 when it was so hot and dry that it ruined the business and the owner was forced to shut down. Not sure of the sizes but they are fairly large. I'm thinking I may need them this year.

If I'd had more money back then, I'd have gone nuts making offers on all that he sold. I did get a couple of nice red wagons, a big piece of ground cover, and zillions of the one, two and three gallon nursery pots

Today there are a carwash and a Dollar General on that piece of property, and I still feel a little twinge of nostalgia every time I drive past it.

 

[Wildwood]

I have a couple at least of large pieces of shade cloth I bought for next to nothing several years ago when a nursery went out of business. (I think it was 2012 when it was so hot and dry that it ruined the business and the owner was forced to shut down. Not sure of the sizes but they are fairly large. I'm thinking I may need them this year.

If I'd had more money back then, I'd have gone nuts making offers on all that he sold. I did get a couple of nice red wagons, a big piece of ground cover, and zillions of the one, two and three gallon nursery pots

Today there are a carwash and a Dollar General on that piece of property, and I still feel a little twinge of nostalgia every time I drive past it.

Lucky you! That stuff is expensive and I'd be nostalgic about losing a nursery too. I feel nostalgic about the fact that almost every little business had a little plant stand out front this time of year and I could find all kinds of good stuff and seed potatoes and onions sets right there with the produce. All three of the grocery stores are closed now but we have a super center and Tractor Supply with Bonnie plants for sale almost exclusively.

I'm pretty sure 2011 and 2012 were the blistering hot years I was talking about.

I had to think long and hard before buying the shade cloth but DH came home with an Amazon gift card for me. We've already sunk a ton more money into the garden this year and we aren't rich but we are trying to get our garden set up to be a little more senior citizen friendly so we can keep growing food when we aren't as able as we are now...it's coming quick.