Summer is the time of year when you get to spend a great deal of time outside in the sunshine, and your backyard provides the perfect spot for these activities. But when your backyard is void of any shade, the paved surface of your patio and the exterior of your home can absorb the sun's radiation to make the temperature uncomfortably hot. Here are some tips to help you make your backyard patio space a more comfortable and shaded one for your summer enjoyment.

Install a Patio Canopy or Awning

A great way to make your backyard patio space cooler is to install an awning or patio canopy over the area. You can find a fixed awning that attaches to your roof's edge and is fixed onto the concrete below or a more sturdy structure made of support columns, similar to a pergola frame. Then, the canvas patio canopy over the top of your patio space will provide shade for hours of outdoor enjoyment.

A canvas patio cover will be made of a durable, water-resistant fabric that will last for many years. If you want to further protect your investment, you can purchase a patio awning that allows you to detach the canvas covering to store it away during the winter and months you don't need the shade for outdoor temperature reduction.

Buy and Use a Mobile Canopy Tent

Another attractive way to shade your backyard patio or any area of your backyard is with a mobile canopy tent. A canopy tent is easy to set up and attach its canopy cover, so you can set it up and take it down when you no longer need to use it.

Because the tent is not permanently fixed on any surface, you can move it around your backyard throughout the summer as you need to provide cooling shade. Be sure you use attachments, such as tent stakes, to fix the tent onto the ground in the event high winds come into your yard. 

Consider Planting Vegetation

A popular method to create a more permanent source of shade in your backyard is by planting vegetation and trees. Trees and vegetation naturally cool the air around them when they release moisture into the air through a process called evapotranspiration. And the shade they create around your patio can additionally keep the space cool and comfortable.

Unless you plant trees that are large enough to shade your patio, you may need to wait a few seasons for them to mature. You can find trees of all growth sizes at a local nursery or home and garden retailer.

If you want a good source of shade, a company like Evans Awning can help.