Garden: How To Create A Cool Oasis?
With the multiplication of heatwaves, it is urgent to adapt both gardening practices and the layout of outdoor spaces around your home. We will explain how to make the surroundings of your house cooler and how to create a cool island in your garden.
What is a cool island?
In urban planning, a cool island is defined as an area that benefits from a cooler temperature than the surrounding zones.
In cities, the creation of cool islands aims to counteract the phenomenon of heat islands, which are areas where heat is concentrated due to the lack of vegetation and the density of concrete, glass, and asphalt constructions...
On a smaller scale, it is possible to create a cool island in one's garden in order to enjoy a shaded and cool spot where one can relax and refresh during the summer.
What are the characteristics of a cool island?
A cool island is a zone where the ambient temperature is reduced through various tricks.
The elements that allow to create such a cool zone are:
• vegetation
• the creation of shaded spaces
• the choice of materials that do not accumulate heat
• the addition of a garden pond or a closed circuit fountain
What plants to plant in a cool island?
If your garden is scorched by the sun and it is not possible to stay there because the heat is stifling, you need to consider several modifications to create a cool oasis. The first solution to make your garden cooler is to add vegetation, especially trees.
In gardens as well as in cities, trees act as natural air conditioners. Indeed, they provide shade and release moisture into the atmosphere through a natural mechanism called evapotranspiration.
To take advantage of this cooling effect, you need to carefully choose the species to plant, their size, and their density. Prefer trees with spreading branches like an umbrella (for example: the stone pine but also oak, linden, or plane tree). Their shade will make all the difference in the middle of summer!
Complete the vegetation with shrub borders, tall plants like giant rhubarb and canna, and climbing plants to limit the accumulation of heat on the walls. The idea is to create a small green haven where it is pleasant to sit and rest on hot days.
What arrangements should be made?
Another solution to create a cool oasis in your garden is to rethink the outdoor layout by focusing on materials, colors, and structures that provide shade.
If you are planning to renovate your terrace, consider choosing a cool surface such as light wood or natural stone instead of concrete. Also, be cautious of materials that heat up in the sun and waterproof coatings for garden paths! It's better to allow water to infiltrate and evaporate so that it can cool the atmosphere.
For all your garden arrangements, remember that light colors are preferable as they reflect sunlight, whereas dark colors like gray or dark green absorb light and heat.
Multiply the accessories that provide shade in the garden by equipping yourself with umbrellas and shade sails or by creating a garden pergola covered with climbing plants. These different arrangements allow you to create shaded areas where it's pleasant to relax around a table or on a bench or hammock...
A small garden pond or fountain is the perfect finishing touch for this cool corner, provided that the water circulates in a closed circuit to avoid any waste of this precious resource.
