AusBonsai

It's a stinking hot day today, approaching 40 degrees and I've been moving some of the heat sensitive trees into more shady areas of the garden. The problem with this weather is that with some trees, even though I can keep them well watered and relatively happy, in this heat they will enter a short dormancy and I miss out on valuable growing time.
I have an area setup with overhead sprinklers that will kick in briefly a few times a day to keep things cool and there is an overhead structure that I will string up 50% white shadecloth during a bad heat wave. The trees love it but the problem is that it's too much work to get the shadecloth down and I usually leave it up after the weather calms down, resulting in leggy growth because of all the shade.
What I need is a system where it's really easy to roll the cloth over and back again so I can do it before I go to work in the mornings, like a rollerblind. If I daydream further, I think of a system like I've seen in some backyard entertainment areas where you can flip a switch and the shadecloth rolls across. If I go really crazy with my daydreams I think of then rigging this up with a small programmable computer with various sensors and wifi connectivity that can control the shadecloth depending on the temperature and UV rating.

Does anyone have a good shade setup? One that can be changed on a daily basis?

Matt.

A cheaper option may be just putting the shade cloth on a track with a pully system?

You could either have a pully on each end to open and close it easily?

Or you could have the track slightly angled down with a pully on only one end, with a slightly heavier weighted bar across the end to keep it weighted down and you can stop it where you like.

Evenly spaced bars along the cloth that are locked into the track would keep it from drooping down onto your trees when retracted for both options.

Hopefully you can work out what I mean?

Even if the pully is too much effort you could just have the shade cloth on the track like the other options but use a hook on a pole to pull it open and closed.

What I'm saying is of course the cheaper option compared to what you sound like you're wanting, just thought I'd throw out the idea for you anyway. If you do get the automatic system I'd love to see photos once it's up.

It also may help putting up photos of the area as it is now, so people can give you better suited advice.

(You could always speak to companies that so similar to this and see if they can do it in 50% shade cloth - http://www.shadeaustralia.com.au/awning ... arm-awning )

Good luck!

Here's a commercial hand operated winder. http://www.redpath.com.au/commercial-gr ... nches.html About $100 for the winder, extra for the pipe that it runs on and winds the shadecloth. I've put one on the fernery here so we can wind it down in summer and roll up the shade neatly in winter. They are mostly used for vertical drops but should be able to be used on horizontal shade as well.

Motor driven unit around $440 with options for automation. http://www.redpath.com.au/commercial-gr ... rives.html

Living in the Pilbara, we deal with this type of heat 8-9months of the year and the best set-up I have seen to date is in Karraha at their Leisurplex!
Imagine a rectangular frame with guide-wires running the length (looks like a washing line). Linked or hooked to that is a shade sail with eyelets; when it gets too hot they run the shade sail over the top (both out and later back in). They have it with electric pulleys...


Cheers
Elmar

Thanks for all the replies. Currently I just have a rectangular frame on posts, all done with galvanized pipe, so I'm going to have to get some sort of track system down 2 sides. After that I'll decide on the method of pulling the shadecloth across.

Looking at that LeisurePlex setup makes me think that this sort of thing is going to become more common. With the heatwave season getting longer each year I could see a market for backyard systems.

Matt.

The main shade is a small shade from oztrail placed the more morning sun friendly bonsai at front and left side and the ones that can handle the heat on right side and back. Green shade cloth done in 3 sections roll out when needed and roll up when the weather is cooler

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Thanks Angelozoras.

When you say you roll out the shadecloth when needed do you mean on the sides of the main structure?

Hey Matt

I too am in Adelaide (I'm the guy that did the coffee at the show this year). I will take a pic of what I have done for my trees. Basically it's shade cloth with wire rope attached to eye botls on each piler of my stands. I the attached the shade cloth the the wire rope allowing me to slide it back and forth.

Hi Bouquet,

You were my favourite person at the show! Having real coffee was the biggest improvement we made!

I'm keen to see your shade setup so thanks in advance.

Matt.

Matt S wrote:Thanks Angelozoras.

When you say you roll out the shadecloth when needed do you mean on the sides of the main structure?

The main has a mesh u can attach but not sure of the uv filter.. The dark green at back has 3 timber pieces left middle and the right is smaller to suit the fence shape I just roll from left to middle then bring in the right side

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Hey Matt

Ok as promised here are a couple photos, I hope you get the idea.

Basically I have 2 eye bolts on each post. One end I have looped the wire rope through the eye bolt and secured with these little D shapped things with nots on them (you can see then in Pic 2). I then did something similer at the other end however I incorporated a turn buckle which allows for the tensioning of the wire rope.

With the shade cloth, I use little black clips that have those little loops you use on key rings. They are attached to the wire rope. One end is secured and the other is fixed by simple clips. When I don't want it over the trees I simply unclip one end and it all runs back to one end.

I hope the pictures make sense, if you have any questions feel free to ask. All the parts are available from Bunnings or any hardware store I would assume.

Thanks mate, that's an excellent setup. I feel a trip to Bunnings coming on.....

Matt
Not sure if the photos really show it but I also have a closed loop water mister around the top. It is 13mm poly pipe with mister nozzles installed. This is all on an on/off water timer. When I first put the mister nozzles in I placed about 4 on each side. Man when I turned it on it was more than a mist, it virtually watered the trees. So I reduced them to about 2 each side and only have the water on for 1 minute every 2 hours, seemed to work the other day.

This is my set up. It is just a cheap green house frame with shade cloth on the top. The bonsai get sun early in the morning and are protected from it when it's at its hottest. throughout the day till it sets. I have no permanent water linked as I am in a rental and will probably get my own place this time next year. I am worried that it the frame will fall down it has survived 2 bad hail storms.

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Haha I had one of those! Flamin dogs destroyed it in one weekend... Chasing lizards and mooses! Down side to having Rottweilers I guess; at least no one ever attempts to break in!


Cheers
Elmar