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Plants for Shade
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If you're feeling sorry
for yourself because you haven't got enough sun in your yard
for even a single tomato plant, it's time to look at the "bright"
side. . .
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Gardeners with trees covering their yards have a unique opportunity to create unusual gardens with a whole different kind of feel. Those who garden in sunny areas are free to use the traditional perennial and annual flowers that everyone is used to seeing and can fairly effortlessly design and place these plants around their gardens with successful results. But while the shade gardener is presented with a challenge, the possibilities are not nearly so limited as one might at first think. And the end results can be dramatic and stunning. The added dimension that old stately trees and even younger trees give the landscape brings a whole new plane into the garden. The design elements that height lends to the creative eye is unparalleled in the sunny gardener's range. Trees are not a thing that someone can just decide to furnish their landscape with, either. Trees take years to reach their full potential. So keepers of shady lots, rejoice! You have an opportunity to create something uniquely beautiful. |
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Planting under trees properly is paramount. . . One thing the shade gardener will become adept at is planting properly around tree roots. First,try to choose plants that are not too large to be comfortably placed between large tree roots. Try not to disturb the tree's roots too much. Once the plants have been placed in available pockets of soil around the tree, mulch with compost (if available) or leaf or woody mulch material. Avoid planting right up next to the tree's trunk, as this will surely cause damage to your tree. If necessary, you can add soil to the area before planting to give yourself extra depth and greater area in which to plant. Just be sure to use compost or other light, woody soil, and don't exceed a depth of 4 or 5 inches. To stack it up any higher would alter the tree roots' ability to absord proper nutrients and moisture. Ground covers are especially well-suited to surrounding trees because of their shallow root systems and spreading habit. They spread themselves much more gently than any gardener could plant them among the tree roots. |
Trees offer good shelter to the plants under and around, and therefore provide more sure success with otherwise less hardy plant material. Borderline hardy things like rhododendrons and azaleas, which can often fail in extremely cold seasons in our area, are a source of color for the shade gardener who is better able to protect them. And the acid from evergreen trees' fallen needles can be an added bonus to these plants, as well. Determine whether you have full shade or part shade (partial shade areas receive up to four hours of sunlight each day). Plant material choices will be slightly different for full and part shade areas. The amount of sun will vary from season to season, so take this into consideration when you plot your yard's light to determine it's type. Try using contrasting foliage plants in addition to flowers in your garden to provide interest and texture. The variegated foliage of Soloman's Seal, or the deep reddish leaves of Heuchera "Purple Palace' can be every bit as eye-catching in a garden as a flashy flowering specimen. Vary the size and shape of the foliage also. |
Using the structural lines created by trees can set up the shade gardener with the perfect opportunity to create "outdoor rooms," which can be delineated further with the use of shrub rows and other visually defining plantings. Various vines can offer their graceful beauty to the shade garden. Hedera, honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, and even grape vines all do well in shadey plantings. And throughout these areas, an occasional bench or birdbath can lend an air of mystery or romance to the landscape, making it a fun and relaxing place to spend time. Following are some plant lists to help you design your shady landscape. Be sure to ask for help at Vinland Valley Nursery so employees can point you to new and exiting plants for shade gardening! |
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Annuals |
Groundcovers |
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Shrubs |
Perennials |
Vines |
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Grasses Calamogrostis (feather reed grass) Chasmanthium (northern sea oats) Carex (sedge) Hystrix (bottle brush) |
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