Designing a New Landscape With Retractable Awnings

Evolving landscape designs make balconies, patios, and yards more usable, even more beautiful. Adequate sun protection helps both people and plants thrive, and versatile retractable awnings lend both stylish grace to outdoor architecture and heat and UV-controlling functionality.

Moving Outside
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) revealed in January that landscape artists are moving toward making outdoor areas true living spaces, beyond traditional grilling. Gentle outdoor areas create a festive yet peaceful atmosphere that’s perfect for daily living and entertaining.

A major part of landscape design is determining how an area is going to be used and finding ways to unite those elements seamlessly. Retractable awnings accomplish this by delineating areas, like providing shade over seating while leaving the cooking area open. They can also provide a consistent design theme which complements the structure of a home and unifies different areas. Most importantly, retractable awnings are shields from glare, UV rays, heat, glare and sunlight so that the outdoors feel more friendly.

Dean Hill, a landscape designer for Terratecture in Indianapolis and a member of ASLA, agrees that retractable awnings have an important place in landscape design because they combine the functionality of creating a comfortable outdoor room with a timeless, harmonious style that can be incorporated into almost any yard or home. Effective landscaping balances home architecture, natural environment, garden layout, and usability. “We try to look at everything cohesively and how it might fit together,” Hill explains. “It’s looking at every piece of the puzzle.”

The key to creating that outdoor haven, says Hill, has three parts:
1. Have a plan. “It’s a roadmap,” Hill explains, recommending getting a design from a landscape architect or gardener, which can circumvent common pitfalls. A plan identifies the kind and placement of plants and high-use areas, so you can determine where to place retractable awnings for the most effective sun protection.

2. Figure out what your needs are. Do you want a play area for children, a small space for intimate family use, or entertaining areas for a dozen people? How are your needs going to change? Knowing how the area will be used helps you identify what design elements (retractable awnings, flowers, decks, trees, play sets, water features) to incorporate.

3. Determine the level of maintenance. Grassy turf is resource-intensive, requiring constant watering, fertilizing, mowing, weeding, and care, as well as money. Flower and vegetable gardens, native plants, and “hardspace” (like decks and patios) are much easier to maintain than lawns. Retractable awnings are maintenance-free. Decide up-front how much time and money you can devote to keeping up your landscape, and you’ll be happier with the long-term results.

One of the most critical elements for all three – planning, needs, and maintenance – is adequate shade. Controlling sunlight is important for UV protection and for heat. “Incorporating shade elements (like a retractable awning or patio cover) is going to give you more usability,” Hill says.

For living spaces, there are a lot of instances where you can integrate shade elements. For instance, vertical drop screen retractable awnings can encircle a sitting area to block bugs, while patio retractable awnings provide shade for pets which have to stay outside all day or are left behind during family vacations. Traditional lateral-arm awnings can be attached to a pergola for additional shade in the middle of the yard; there are all kinds of retractable patio cover systems which can be used over patios or walkways to create comfortable sitting spaces.

Retractable awnings can even be a way of saving your gardens. According to George Gustafson, a master gardener with the Oklahoma State Extension Office, heat and dryness are two of the biggest threats to gardens, even for full sun plants. “What full sun means,” he explains, “is sunlight all day for areas north of Kansas City (latitude). That’s pretty much an industry standard. In the south and southwest, the afternoon sun gets way too hot, even for full sun plants. The heat will burn them up.” Retractable awnings protect sprouting plants from glaring sunlight, allowing full sun in the morning and filtered light in the afternoon. Retractable awnings for shade gardens even make them easier to maintain – slowing evaporation means that you water less and stunt the growth of sun-loving weeds.

Awning Solutions
As spring planting begins and entertainment moves outdoors, it’s time to take a fresh look at how you use your outdoor spaces. The indispensable asset for retractable awnings is their flexibility: they can be installed in many different areas, they can be closed or adjusted to control both shade and light, and they don’t need any maintenance. Retractable awnings can be used on patios, over balconies, over hot tubs or water features, and even over gardens.

When picking a retractable awning, look at how you plan to use your outdoor space, and find the retractable awning that harmonizes with those needs:
• Insect and pest protection with vertical drop screen awnings
• Accessories like timers or sensors for sun, motion, wind, and rain which automatically close retractable awnings to protect them from damage – even if you’re not there.
• Different retractable awning styles, from traditional lateral arm awnings to free-standing butterfly awnings, plus hundreds of different awning fabrics in vibrant colors, bold patterns, and harmonious neutrals.
• Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics endorsed by the American Skin Cancer Association for UV protection.
• Lower temperatures (between 8 and 15 degrees) and less indoor heat buildup (up to 77%) making both indoor and outdoor areas cooler, more comfortable, and more energy efficient.

“People spend so much time picking out furnishings, curtains, for the inside of their homes. The outdoor areas can be a direct reflection of their personality, too,” encourages Hill. “You really have the opportunity to make an impression on the outdoors. Don’t hesitate to put your fingerprint on it.”