Your patio is an excellent place to spend time outside, whether you enjoy reading outside or playing outdoor games with friends. A soft breeze can cool you off in the Texas summer heat, but the wind can interrupt your afternoon. To get the most out of your outdoor living space, consider how you can prevent the wind from drying out your plants and blowing against your patio furniture. This guide has some windbreak ideas to help you enjoy your patio.
Tips to Windproof Your Outdoor Space
To control the wind on your patio, you need to find ways to redirect its path. Consider these tips for keeping gusts away from your outdoor living area.
1. Plant Trees and Shrubs
Put up hedges and trees to interrupt the wind blowing through your property. This greenery can direct the wind away from your house to reduce wind chill and help you enjoy your patio. Instead of stopping the wind completely, plants redirect wind away from your patio. Here are some of the ways that using trees and shrubs add value to your outdoor living space:
- Affordable cost: You can find shrubs and trees that can fit within your budget. Planting a few trees can cost less money than fences or trellises.
- Beauty: Trees and shrubs make your outdoor living space look cleaner. You can find different shrubs and trees with colorful flowers or leaves that appeal to your unique style.
- Natural: Shrubs and trees can buffer your property against mild winds while maintaining an outdoorsy feel on your patio.
- Long lifespan: Evergreen trees work well because they’re dense and last a long time. As a result, you can protect your patio from the wind for decades.
Keep in mind that shrubs are only useful in mild winds, and they can be challenging to maintain. Trees require less care, but they take a long time to grow.
2. Put up a Fence
A solid fence slows the wind by deflecting it to another place instead of letting it blow through your property. Install your fence with sturdy support posts to prevent it from getting knocked down by the wind. Consider some of the benefits of putting up a fence:
- Cleanliness: The wind can bring pollen and other debris onto your property, causing allergies and a reduced visual appeal. Fences can trap debris and help you keep your patio clean.
- Versatile design: Fences come in different colors and materials to complement your home’s aesthetic. Choose a style that enhances your outdoor living space.
- Privacy: Besides controlling the wind around your property, a solid fence can also make your patio more private, keeping out intruders and nosy onlookers.
However, fences are less effective at blocking the wind as separated panels. The wind blows over a solid structure and drops down on the other side. If you use a fence, try to put space between the boards.
3. Decorate Your Garden With Trellises
Lining your patio with trellises can block winds while enhancing your outdoor living space’s aesthetic. You could hang some ivy or vines on your trellis to decorate it. Here are some of the advantages of using trellises as wind barriers:
- Ease of installation: Trellises are free-standing screens that you can conveniently install on your own. They’re also easy to relocate if you ever need to renovate your patio.
- Simple maintenance: Since trellises aren’t living, you don’t have to maintain them to keep them in excellent condition. They can withstand most weather conditions to last on your property for many years.
- Custom design: Trellises come in various materials and sizes to complement your outdoor living space. You can also plant vertical plants to have them grow through the gaps in your trellis panels.
Keep in mind that trellises can be expensive, and you’ll likely have to buy a few of them to block the wind from one direction. You may want to use a trellis if you have a small patio and your area has mild winds.
4. Install Windscreens on Your Windows
A set of windscreens around your property can act as a patio wind barrier. Besides being a windbreak for your outdoor patio, this protective screen can also give you privacy to make your outdoor living space more inviting and personal. Windscreens come in various materials, depending on your need for protection. Clear panels block the wind while allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty outside. Window shutters can go over your outdoor area to control the wind. They’re available in various styles and materials, so they can easily match your home’s existing design. Installing windscreens can add value to your patio by allowing you to enjoy the outdoors without unpleasant gusts. Besides protecting your property from the wind, they also guard against the following:
- Harsh sunlight
- Intruders
- Pests and bugs
- Severe weather conditions
5. Enclose Your Patio
One of the best wind protection methods is to put an enclosure around your patio. Glass panels and vinyl framing could help protect your outdoor living area from wind damage. Consider some of the benefits of enclosing your property instead of using temporary solutions like trellises:
- Convenience: Patio enclosures are easy for professionals to install. You can open and close your patio screens from your smartphone or remote control.
- Versatile design: You can choose from several materials to enhance your property’s appearance. Consider enclosing your patio with open or closed panels, depending on your lifestyle.
- Enhance your outdoor living space: A patio enclosure can help you enjoy the outdoors all year long, resisting sunlight and other harsh weather conditions. Besides protecting your property from the wind, it also keeps away pests.
- Long lifespan: The materials used to make patio enclosures tend to last longer than other windbreak options. They’re more likely to withstand unpleasant weather conditions and unexpected wear.
Causes of a Windy Patio
Your patio may be windier than other properties because of the following factors:
- Geographical location: Texas gets windy in the wintertime, but you may notice stronger gusts in other parts of the country.
- Temperature: Colder temperatures tend to make the wind seem more noticeable. If you live in a cold area, you may have a windy patio.
- Landscape: Like the trees and shrubs around your property, the terrain can affect the wind speed. Hilly areas tend to have less wind than flatlands.
You might not be able to control your local area’s landscape or weather, but you can control how it affects your patio. Enclosing your patio or installing windbreaks can effectively interrupt the pathway of wind to protect your plants and help you enjoy your space.
Contact Shading Texas for Patio Wind Protection
Shading Texas provides security shutters and patio encloses to protect your outdoor living space from the wind. We offer protection from the Texas heat and other unpleasant weather conditions. To start making the most out of your patio, you can reach out to us online or call 512-264-1500 for more information.
Matt Pierce has been working in the solar shade industry for over 15 years, providing sun protection in the extremes of Alaska and Texas. His dedicated team at Shading Texas will get your the sun solutions you need to enjoy your patios and homes for years to come by blocking out bugs, sun, wind, and rain!