Living Shade: Use Plants to Naturally Cool Your Home and Garden

As the South African sun gets stronger in October, finding ways to stay cool without cranking up the power bill becomes a real priority. One of the most beautiful and sustainable solutions? Let nature do the work for you. By using plants as natural shade, you can keep your home and garden cooler, fresher, and a whole lot greener.

Here’s how you can turn your outdoor (and indoor) spaces into shady, plant-powered retreats—DIY style.

1. Climbing Plants = Natural Insulation

Creepers and climbers are an absolute win for keeping walls, fences, and even parts of your roof cooler. They create a leafy barrier that deflects heat and traps cooler air close to surfaces.

Top Picks:

  • Granadilla (passion fruit) – edible and fast-growing
  • Star jasmine – fragrant and evergreen
  • Cape honeysuckle – hardy, colourful, and attracts birds
  • Climbing roses – classic and romantic, but need support

DIY Tip: Install trellis panels or tensioned wire frames on sun-facing walls. For a full project, grab a few timber batten lengths, brackets, and outdoor screws and make your own vertical climbing wall.

2. Plant Trees in the Right Places

Trees are long-term shade-makers. The trick is to plant them in the right spot—north and west sides of your house get the most intense afternoon sun.

Great SA-Friendly Shade Trees:

  • Fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea) – fast-growing with a stunning look
  • Keurboom – quick shade and indigenous
  • Wild olive – evergreen and drought-hardy

DIY Tip: Use mulch and compost to retain soil moisture when planting new trees in spring.

3. Create a Living Pergola or Green Tunnel

If you’ve got a pergola or want to build one, consider training plants to cover it. You’ll not only get cooling shade but also boost your garden’s vibe.

Plant Ideas:

  • Bougainvillea – loves the sun, drought-tolerant
  • Wisteria – dramatic and leafy
  • Grapevines – functional and tasty

DIY Tip: If you don’t have a pergola yet, pick up treated timber, galvanised brackets, and a post-hole digger.

4. Vertical Gardens for Shade and Style

A vertical garden against a hot wall helps absorb heat and cool down the area. Plus, it’s an eye-catching way to grow herbs, ferns, or trailing plants.

What You’ll Need:

  • Wall-mounted planters or pallet frames
  • Coconut coir or felt planting pockets
  • Irrigation drippers or a simple watering can

DIY Tip: Reuse an old wooden pallet and create tiered garden beds. Just line the inside with weed mat or hessian and staple it in place.

5. Potted Plant Barriers on Patios and Windows

Don’t underestimate the power of large potted plants. Lining up pots along sunny window areas or around a veranda can make a big temperature difference.

Best Choices:

  • Bamboo palm – tropical and breezy
  • Aloe ferox – low maintenance and native
  • Fiddle leaf fig – stylish for inside or semi-shade areas

DIY Tip: Choose light-coloured pots to reflect sunlight and prevent roots from overheating. Add rolling stands to move them around with the sun.

Final Thoughts: Go Green, Stay Cool

With a little planning and elbow grease, your garden and home can stay naturally cooler—and look blooming marvellous while doing it. Living shade isn’t just effective; it’s also good for the environment, reduces electricity use, and adds serious kerb appeal.

Ready to get growing? Pop into DIY Depot for your planting tools, trellis gear, compost, and more—all with expert advice on hand.