Can I Use Burlap as a Shadecloth?

Q. Can I use burlap for shade cloth?

Burlap fabric 

A. Don’t use burlap as a solid piece in place of shade cloth for permanent shade. It is fine for creating permanent shade for people or pets but not for plants. Be careful how much heat it traps under it if it is located too close to humans and other animals. Plants are green and need sunlight for photosynthesis. Usually about 60 to 70% sunlight. People and pets don’t need as much.

Use Shade Cloth Instead

It comes in different percentages of shade ranging from about 30% to 100%. Shade cloth for plants ranges from 20 to about 50% shade. Plants that flower and produce fruits like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant need more light than leafy plants: 20 to 40% shade. Shade more than this interferes with flowering and fruiting.

t

This is 30% shade cloth used on a tunnel for growing sun sensitive vegetables and herbs in the desert sun in Las Vegas

Plants that only grow leaves and no flowers such as lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, greens can handle shade up to about 50%. After 50% shade, they grow poorly. Too dark. Not enough light. Most burlap I have seen produces much more shade than this and would not be a good choice when growing plants.

 You can make 50% shade out of wooden 1x2's by omitting every other piece of wood. These are called “lathe houses”. Similarly, 30-40% shade can be done the same way but by eliminating 2 and leaving every 3rd 1x2.