What does a shade net do?

Shade net is a mesh fabric made of synthetic fiber designed to block a certain amount of sunlight, anywhere from 20% to 95%. Since shade cloth is a fabric, it allows air flow so the cloth itself can absorb and release heat quickly and whatever is underneath the shade cloth can stay cool. In most cases, it comes in either black or dark green, but occasionally can be white or more rarely metallic aluminum.

Shade Net Percentages

30-50% – Used mainly in the garden to protect tender nursery seedlings, partial-shade-loving plants such as irises, heat-sensitive leafy greens like lettuce, and protect other vegetables that may be stressed during stretches of intense heat and sun (e.g. protecting tomatoes from pollen sterility during a heatwave).

75-80% (and higher) – Used to protect people or animals from the sun, as protection barriers on buildings, and to protect shade-loving plants like orchids.

What Type of Shade Net Should I Use?

The best type of shade cloth will depend on your situation, however, a green (or black) shade cloth of anywhere between 30-50% density will work in most situations. If you need more protection, aim for 50% or even 60%.

What to look for in a shade net?

Fabric material

A shade net can be either knitted or woven. The knitted shade cloth is made of polyethylene blend which deflects heat and light. It is lightweight but can withstand regular wear and tear.

While the woven shade net is made of 100% polypropylene which is more suitable to use during winter. It is also heavier than knitted cloths which enables more heat build-up.

Density Percentage

Aside from the shade cloth fabric material, the density percentage of the shade net is an important aspect to be considered. Choose the appropriate density percentage will depend on what plants you will be growing. Here are the density percentage that some plants require:

• 30% - this shade net is recommended for heat tolerant plants such as pepper, squash and tomato. It can also be used for flowering plants such as snapdragons, geraniums and chrysanthemums.

• 40%-50% - this is ideal for flowering plants such as lilies and caladiums, orchids, azaleas, begonias, camellias

• 60% - this percentage is ideal for sensitive plants like lettuce and spinach

• 70%-90% - generally used for ornamental plants such as ferns, palms, anthurium, dracaena, philodendron

Very high percentages of shade net can also be used to protect animals and people.If you are interested in our products, pls contact us : info@bettermicn.com