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 Start the season with native spring ephemerals
like hepatica, spring beauties and trout lilies. These plants grow
and flower early in the season before the trees leaf out, shading
the area. They dieback soon after flowering as shade tolerant plants
fill the garden. Look for those native to your region.
Select bright and lime green foliage plants that stand out in the
shady corners of your landscape. Combine them with your favorite
dark leafed and flowered plants that tend to disappear in the shade.
The contrasting colors help both plants pop.
Use plants with variegated foliage to light up the garden long after
their flowers fade. Siberian bugloss (Brunnera) has blue
forget-me-not-like flowers in spring and variegated heart shaped
leaves. Variegated Solomon Seal’s upright stems covered with green
leaves edged in cream, white bell-shaped flowers and yellow fall
color provide multiple seasons of interest.
Barrenwort (Epimedium) also provides seasonal color in the shade.
The heart shaped leaves are tinged red and emerge with the flowers
in spring. The leaves turn green for the summer and then change once
again to red in fall.
Add some height to those shady areas with bugbane. The leaves are
topped with white spires of flowers in summer or fall, depending on
the variety selected.
The white or pink blossoms of Roger’s flower brighten the early
summer garden. The big, bold leaves of this moisture-loving
perennial resemble those of a horse chestnut tree.
The narrow leaves of sedges and Hakone grass create a striking
contrast with the bold leaves of hostas. For an even bolder
statement and focal point include a few elephant ears.
Look for shade tolerant plants with a variety of leaf shapes and
sizes. The differences in texture add interest to the shade garden.
Repeat the leaf sizes and shapes to unify the garden. Use this same
strategy to create continuity between sun and shade gardens in your
landscape.
Include a variety of plant shapes. Use columnar plants to create a
focal point and weeping and mounded plants for a sense of fluidity
in the garden.
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A lack of sun is not the only factor to consider when
planning a shade garden. The density of the canopy of trees or an
overhang may also limit the water that reaches and is available to
the plants below. Growing dry, shade-tolerant perennials will help
reduce your long-term maintenance. Barrenwort, liriope, coral bells,
foam flower, sweet woodruff and hellebores are fairly shade tolerant
once established.
Make sure all new plantings are watered thoroughly and when the top
few inches of soil are crumbly and moist. Proper watering the first
few years will result in deep, drought tolerant root systems that
will help these plants grow and flourish despite the dry shade.
When planting under or near trees, be careful not to kill the trees
when creating your shade garden. Don’t cut or remove surface roots,
creating entryways for insects and diseases. Adding as little as an
inch of soil over the roots can kill some tree species. Avoid deep
cultivation which can damage the feeder roots that are critical for
water and nutrient absorption since the majority grow within the top
12 inches of soil.
If there’s too much shade to grow even shade-loving plants, consider
mulch to protect the soil and tree roots. Add a chair for relaxing
and enjoy this cool space as summer temperatures rise.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including
The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space
Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD
series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV &
radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for
Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her
expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo
courtesy of MelindaMyers.com]
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