If you're lounging on a sandy beach with your toes in the water and a cold beverage in your hand, the sun is a welcome friend. But if you're trying to relax on your deck with family and friends, the glare and withering heat of direct sunlight can be uncomfortable.
Consider your needs
The best screening solutions are reversible to some degree: Foliage can be pruned; lattice can be left bare or interwoven with climbing plants; shades can be raised or lowered. Nevertheless, it makes sense to take a hard look at your yard and consider your needs before you begin any project.
In most cases, you don't need to enclose the area on all sides to make it more comfortable. Screening the eastern, southern or western exposure will eliminate most of the problem.
If you've been using your deck or patio for a while, you know how your peak usage times relate to the direction of sunlight or to a lack of privacy. To preview the effects of selectively screening an area, simply hang an old bedsheet or two in various positions and monitor the changes over the course of a day.
Once you've determined which sides to screen, consider how your solution could affect home security. Unfortunately, enhancing privacy can benefit intruders as well as sunbathers. If you're worried about break-ins, a pull-down outdoor shade system may be the answer: When you aren't using the deck or patio, you can raise the shades so they don't provide cover for potential burglars.
Aesthetics are another important concern. A stand of vinyl lattice panels will block glare, but it may detract from the appearance of your home. For best results, choose materials that blend in as much as possible with your house and yard, and use them discreetly.
Don't expect any benefits other than screening from the solution you choose — its purpose is functional more than decorative. To enhance appearance, add plantings. For example, climbing clematis or ivy softens latticework and helps integrate it into your landscape.
If you plan to install lattice, position it so it doesn't face directly into prevailing winds, and wrap it in a sturdy, well-anchored frame. Even small sections of latticework can be blown over fairly easily. Wind is a concern with fabric screening as well. Make sure it can be removed easily — either by rolling it up or disconnecting it from the support system. Fabric screens are made of material similar to that used for sails; never use these screens in high winds. Whichever solution you select, ask for feedback from family members (who will also use the deck or patio) and neighbors (who will have to look at it) before you begin. A well-planned screening project will enhance your time outdoors without impeding the enjoyment of other users or alienating the neighbors.