Photo courtesy of suzyday at flickr.com.
Not many gardeners use them anymore, but one effective way to protect delicate plants from the wind or sun is by using a structure called a lath house.
This is an easily-built frame of closely-spaced wooden laths with gaps in between, which provides both shade and wind protection without cutting off necessary sunlight or circulation. Think of it as a kind of permeable hybrid between an arbor and a greenhouse. In cloudy or foggy environments, the laths should be spaced further apart; in sunny environments, it’s a good idea to space them closer together. You can even put a wall or roof on hinges so it opens up entirely, just in case your plants need extra light occasionally.
