ᐅ Natural shading provided by plants

I think the idea is very nice. Besides, the shade under a tree is much more pleasant.

It is important that the trees or shrubs have a more umbrella-shaped crown so that they provide broad, continuous shade. You can train almost any shrub this way (or buy them already shaped like this). The key point is that the plant is pruned or trained so the lower branches are removed.

Try searching for "umbrella-shaped trees or shrubs" or check the website schirmförmig(punkt)ch for information and pictures.

Non-native species attract fewer insects.

Espaliered plane trees are fantastic. They don’t grow very fast, and shade-providing trees in the first summer are expensive.

Curly schrieb:

I would be concerned about the mess from leaves, flowers, and bird droppings, and all the wood grooves where it gets stuck.

I don’t think so—just sweep occasionally and that’s it. You gain a lot of quality of life with little extra effort. Calling fallen leaves and flowers “dirt” sounds quite disconnected from nature.

charli schrieb:

that the shrubs have a more umbrella-shaped canopy so they really provide widespread shade.

There are also trumpet-shaped ones. Their growth form looks like a chanterelle mushroom, just like in the picture.
Yes... looks fantastic. But I also think about the mess: such a tree drops quite a bit every day, either from animals or wind. Avoid those with fruit, like the serviceberry, since it attracts birds and drops messy fruit.

As much as I love being out in nature, I don’t want that on the terrace. The dirt factor would bother me too much here.

Alessandro schrieb:

Is natural shading like this practical? The distance between the ornamental apple trees is exactly 5m (16 feet)

Do you have enough space around your wooden deck for the plants? If I add an extra 3m (10 feet) on each side, since the trees’ canopy will extend beyond the trunk, you would need a base area of 11 x 11m (36 x 36 feet).

Otherwise, a trellis with whatever plants (that also make a mess on the terrace) you prefer.

It looks very stylish, but is it practical? If you sit so close directly under the trees, you’ll have all kinds of critters around you. Spiders, bees, caterpillars, ants… That might be a nice change for a picnic, but every morning at breakfast?