Easy Protection from the Sun for Young or Sensitive Plants

If you live in an area with brutal sun, as I do, some newly planted or young plants need to be protected from the sun during the hottest parts of the day until they can acclimate or age. I have used rocks and slate in the past, but they can be hard to set perfectly, often aren’t tall enough, and if they happen to fall over they can crush your plants.

I have started using cedar construction shims. They come in 15”-16” long varieties and are about 1¼” wide, with one end being 1/16” thick and the other being about 1/4" thick.
Shims are lightweight (no smashed plants), are easy to set and remove, and are inexpensive ($4-$6 for a pack of 42-48). They can be broken or cut shorter if you don’t need the full height, and then you may be able to get two uses from each shim.
They are cedar, so they also will last in the ground longer than many other types of wood.

Just set as many of them in the ground, side by side, until you get the width you need (thin side down).
Presto! Instant sun block!
Be careful not to cut any of the plant’s roots while you are pushing the shims into the ground.

Shims in action!
On a Sempervivum ‘Red Lion’


On a Sempervivum ‘Red Beauty’





Cedar shims can be bought at most hardware stores. Here are just a few places you can get them:

Home Depot
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unb...
Lowe’s
http://www.lowes.com/pd_202334...
Sutherland’s
http://sutherlands.com/product...


There are also many other ways to use shims around the house and garden!

-Of course, they can be used to shim doors and windows during installation.
-They can be used as quick vegetable/plant labels and paint stirrers.
-They can be used to lay out a flower bed or garden or to simulate/mark the maximum possible growth of a plant to prevent overcrowding when plotting the usage of space.
-Have a chair, table, or appliance leg that’s too short or a bookcase that is uneven? Shims to the rescue!
-To fix a loose screw in wood: Remove screw. Cut, then insert piece of shim into hole. Repeat until hole is much smaller (or filled), then reinsert screw. Can be glued into place if needed.
-They can also be used to make cool wall art: http://www.twenty-six-to-life....
http://www.twenty-six-to-life.... (scroll to bottom)
http://thehandcraftedlife.blog... (8”L & 12”L noncedar shims used)
-Or as a wall covering: http://foundthispaintedthat.wo...

Please feel free to ask any questions or to add your own uses for shims in the comments.