SHADEHOUSE
PROS AND CONS
The use of shadehouses is becoming more and more common in growing daylilies. Discussions have been pro and con on the matter. One's attitude on the matter is very likely influenced to a great extent by the location in which they live.

Some of the benefits of shadehouses in my area of Texas are these:

  • shade
  • soil moisture retention due to shade
  • blossom, POD, plant protection from hail and heavy rain
  • a slight amount of temperature relief
  • increased seed set possibilities
  • healthier and nicer plants during summer heat

    It is obvious that we would not be using shadehouses if there were not some good reasons for doing so. Many people who grow lilies live in areas that have conditions more similar to those created by shadehouses. In fact, in our area, shadehouses can not even approach creating the milder temperatures in air and soil that are found naturally occurring in much of the northern, great lakes, and coastal areas of the U.S. Our 30% shadecloth may give us a 95-97 degree temperature instead of the 100 degrees outside.
    In natural conditions where there are some trees scattered around one has very possibly a 30% shade condition existing without even realizing it. In our location here at the farm we are out in the open field and have no relief save what we make for our plants. In our northern hemisphere as one moves from south to the north the sun's radiation is striking at more of an angle and is therefore passing through more atmosphere before reaching the surface.
    Generally speaking this is a factor that makes for somewhat milder summertime temperatures in the north. There are, of course, other factors such as lake effect and coastal breezes which can have bearing on this also. Having this natural "shadecloth" in the north or in other areas which have other moderating factors may make shadecloth unnecessary.

    • With the above in mind it can be fairly easily seen that using shadecloth in some areas is really little different than growing lilies without shadecloth in other areas. The lilies themselves really tell the story. If they are prettier, healthier, more vigorous, and etc., then the shadecloth is apparently not a bad idea for your area. The above being said does not mean in any way that the grower should not carefully evaluate substance, vigor, hardiness, and related qualities that are so important in deciding if a lily is worthy of introduction. Some factors will always be difficult for testing in certain areas.
    For example: Some cultivars that are tried and true in the north can fall prey to crown rot in areas of the south even though never happening in the north. This is probably due to longer season of hot temperatures and higher soil temperatures in the south. On the other hand some southern lilies can freeze and be killed by the northern cold temperatures. And then we have the people who live in areas that have the extremes in weather of both north and south and the added hazard of repeated freezing and thawing of the soil in the winter! With such a range of conditions as those mentioned above it is no wonder that lilies are introduced that for one reason or the other fall victim to circumstances.
    Even when lilies are tested in varied locations, specific extreme climatic abnormalities can cause the death of a particular cultivar that might otherwise not have died.
    In conclusion then, shadehouses will not be a detriment to our work with lilies if we are careful in our evaluations. Indeed, with the tremendous increase in seed set provided in shadehouses or greenhouses, we should be able to develop newer and more vigorous plants to select as future introductions.
    CIRCUMSTANCES OFTEN DICTATE ONE'S NEEDS
    AND SO IT FOLLOWS THAT IF IT WORKS FOR YOU
    GO FOR IT!

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