In ancient times, shaded areas were treasured by gardeners. The Kings of ancient Egypt enjoyed shaded gardens, as depicted on the walls of a tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It shows a gardener tying vines to a trellis in order to create shade. The garden of Cyrus the Great in Persia included groves of shade trees as well as orchards.

Determine the Level of Shade

The first step to gardening in the shade is to determine the level of shade present in the space. The word “shade” is defined as an absence of light. There are four levels of shade: dappled shade, open shade, medium shade, and lastly, dense shade. Determining which level of shade is present will help determine the plants to choose for the space.

Dapple Shade- This type of shade is characterized by alternating periods of direct sunlight and shade. This is also the brightest form of shade. Dapple shade is created mainly by trees such as Birch. They give some form of shade but the sun still falls directly on the area at given times throughout the day.

Open Shade- Open shade is characterized by good bright indirect sunlight. No direct sunlight hits the space at any time throughout the day. The sunlight can be reflected off a structure such as a house or fence that is painted a light color.

Medium Shade- This occurs in an open shade situation where light is further obscured by foliage and branches. The area is all shade but not dense or dark.

Dense Shade- This is the deepest shade and is usually found under dense tree canopies. This is the most difficult shaded planting area and the plants used must be chosen carefully.