Shade Gardening

Shade Gardening

Tired of looking at that barren dark spot in the yard? Do you think it is impossible to grow beautiful plants in little or no sun?  Shade gardening is not as complicated or difficult as you believe. In fact, there are several varieties of plants which thrive in little to no sunlight; it’s just that most people aren’t botanists and end up picking plants requiring partial to full sun and that’s why they die. All it takes is some preparation, a little plant information and a desire to add a little more greenery to your life.

So let’s first head outside and take a look at the area you want to use for a shade garden. There are a few questions you need to answer in order to choose the best plants:

What is causing the shade; trees or a building?  This is important because trees will take nutrients away from the soil as well, so it is necessary to choose plants accordingly.

Is the area dry, damp or wet most of the time?  Again, this is a factor in plant determination.

What do you want the garden to look like once the plants are mature?  Too many plants will not work and you do not want one plant overtaking another due to a growth advantage.

What is the soil like?  Is it hard and root bound or hard packed?  Is it soft and mushy?  It will be necessary to prepare the garden bed by tilling the area, removing any rocks, sticks and dead roots, and finally adding a 6 - 8 inch layer of fresh organic soil or compost. Make sure the bed is higher towards the center and tapered lower going out. This will allow for proper water drainage.

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Garden Tip...

This question is frequently asked! Do you recommend the use of artificial fertilizers for house plants, and does it benefit them? I invariably answer yes, if used judiciously. The use of good special fertilizers will help the growth of some kinds of plants, which, without such aid, would scarcely meet our expectations. The term artificial fertilizers, applies to all manurial applications, save those produced by domestic animals.
~ James Sheehan
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What is the size of the garden?  You need an approximate square footage to help you determine how many plants to buy. Remember to find out how big each plant becomes as well.

Here are some suggestions for plants that thrive in little to no sun:

Caladiums - offer a variety of colors and stalk heights
Ferns - add a woodsy feel to the garden and really like moist areas
English Ivy - great for ground cover
Daylilies - beautiful flowers
Hostas - just about any type
Phlox - creeping and wild blue
Wax Begonias
Impatiens
Forget-me-nots
Pansies
Vinca
Shasta Daisies
Maiden grass or Tufted Hair grass

Many of these plants will require a moister environment but all will do well in dryer conditions too. As for the number of plants you will need, you can usually figure the space between each plant by knowing what their adult height will be. If it grows to a height of 10″ to 12″ then you will need to have a space perimeter around the plant of 10″ to 12″. Of course there are some exceptions to this rule such as the Daylilies. If you are buying ground covers only, the number of plants to buy will be decided by your budget; the more plants, the faster the growth and fill-in time. If you are buying a variety of plants then you will want to layer or stack them according to height, shorter in front, taller in back. It is always a good idea to intersperse the colors as well as the plants depending upon your desired look.

Shade gardening is a lot of fun and really no extra effort than a sunlight garden; it just takes a little plant knowledge.
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Garden Tip...

Good, fresh, rich soil, is an element that is indispensable to the growth of healthy, vigorous plants. A plant cannot be thrifty if grown in soil that has become musty and stale with long continued use; it must have fresh soil, at least once a year.
~ James Sheehan
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