For some of us, gardening in the shade is not a choice. Tree shaded yards do not have to be barren of interesting plants and colors. With the right choices, your shaded area can become a focal feature instead of a nuisance.
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.
Choosing Plants
To garden successfully in the shade, you must choose plants according to the
distribution of shade as well as sunlight, in the area where you are
considering planting your shade garden.
Matching the plant to the level of shade- Knowing the correct amount of
sun/shade to give a plant is a key element for the successful growth of any
plant. It is important to choose plants specifically designed for the shade.
When sun-loving plants are planted in an area with a considerable amount of
shade present, the plant will produce long, weak stems and leaves, and also
less foliage than normal. In this situation the plant will stretch towards the
sunlight that it needs, this phenomenon is known as etiolation. As a result the
plant may become too stressed and die. That is why determining right plants for
the right amount of shade is critical.
Shade plants need well-aerated soil, careful watering, and plenty of space.
Good air circulation is also important since leaves do not have the sun to dry
them out after a good watering. Good circulation is also necessary to prevent
disease and other harmful moisture loving problems such as mold and root rot.
The Special Conditions of Your Garden
The gardener in search of plants to grow in a shaded location can take some
practical steps to make sure that the right plants are matched with the right
conditions. First, when you visit the plant nursery or garden center, confine
your initial selection to those plants already growing in shaded conditions.
Important Points to Consider
If the planting area is under a large tree, the type of tree can make a
difference in the plants that you can grow there. If the tree has a mass of
surface roots, such as Sycamore, Maple, or Elm, or if the trees drops leave
that are toxic to other plants, this could affect the plants that you place in
the area. The Eucalyptus is an example of a tree that drops toxic leaves. (One
solution to this problem is to plant your plants into containers instead of the
ground and place them where you want. This also allows you to move them around
and into different areas).
If the trees in the space are deep-rooted, such as oaks and most conifers,
but produce deep shade, you might have to do some selective thinning to allow
more light onto the area.
Structures in Your Garden
If structures are a part of the space that your are planting your shade
garden then try to plant beds on the North, Northeast, and East sides of the
structures. These are the best areas for shade loving plants.
The old rule of thumb in these situations is that most shade-loving plants
will tolerate the morning sun until about noon,
after that success if variable.
Also, keep in mind that as the sun changes its course during the year, the
amount of light that an area receives can change dramatically.
Planning and Designing
All successful gardens, no matter what their location or exposure, are a
combination of three elements:
#1-A well thought-out plan or design. A well thought-out plan or design will
ensure that you will create a more beautiful garden with fewer mistakes along
the way.
#2-The use of plants for color, texture and foliage. Using the plants color
and texture can create dramatic effects in your garden, if done properly.
#3-Lastly, the employment of style to pull the whole scene together.
Consulting different gardening books and materials can ensure that the design
of your garden has plenty of style and balance.
Styles of Shade Gardens
The Woodland Garden-Even the tiniest grove of trees can be incorporated into
a woodland garden. If your area is absent of trees and foliage then you might
want to consider planting some to anchor the space and give you a backdrop for
your shade garden.
Some plants that work well in a woodland garden situation are:
Shrubs- Abelia, Hydrangea, Kalmia, Mahonia, Pieris, Rhododendron, and
Vaccinium
Small trees- Acer Palmatum, Cornus Florida,
Ligustrum, Flowering Dogwood, and Azaleas.
The Oriental Garden-
Gardens in the oriental style are
to a lot of people the most beautiful and shade is an important part of this
garden. Other important design elements that work in an Oriental
Garden are the use of rocks and
also a water feature as a main focal point. (The Chinese character representing
garden is composed of two words, land and water.)
The Oriental styled garden is supposed to be understated and reserved.
To design and Oriental Garden you might want to try a Japanese Maple, a few
small evergreens, some tufts of Dwarf Bamboo, one flowering plant, pebbles, a
flat weathered bench, and a lantern. A tiny pool created by using the top of a
birdbath sunken among rocks and ferns might also be just the focal point that
you need to anchor the space.
Creating Shade
Some trees to consider for creating shade are: Japanese maple, pines,
flowering plums, cherries, crab apples, beeches, Gingko, and Magnolia Soulan
Giana.
Using a Structure to Create Shade
Deciduous vines:
Chinese Goose Berry, Kiwi
vine; hardy to zone 8 and grows rapidly to 30 feet forming woody stems.
Clematis hybrids; hardiness varies with the different kinds. This vine grows
quickly to 15 feet.
Gourds; this vine is an annual, so it will require planting each year. Plant
this vine from seeds. Vines grow fast to 20 or 30 feet and bear well.
Morning Glory (Ipomoea Tricolor); this vine is also an annual and requires
planting from seeds. It grows quickly to over 15 feet with beautiful trumpet
shaped flowers.
Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus Quinquefolia); hardy to zone 4, starts slow
but grows rapidly to 50 feet. It leaves grow to 6 inches wide and will add
shade quickly. It is known for its bright green color in the summer and its
brilliant red color in the fall.
Anchor these vines to a trellis or fence. For added shade you might try an
overhead trellis or even a pergola.
Shade Gardening with Color
Ideas for color schemes can be found anywhere. The assortment of blooming
shade plants is extensive and growing every year. You might try using tints and
shade of only one color-for example, scarlet, various tints of pink, and a deep
shade of red or maroon.
Or you might use a plant whose colors are related- red and violet, blue and
violet, or yellow-orange. Some gardeners prefer using colors that complement
each other- orange and blue, yellow and violet, red and green. Although these
colors are bold, they may be ideal for a deeply shaded garden.
Flowering plants can also change the atmosphere of the garden.
For summer warmth in shady garden try using colors ranging from yellows to reds.
These colors will brighten the space and make it feel warmer.
Shaded areas planted with colors ranging from green to violet will give the
impression of coolness. Cool-colored plants are good for close viewing and will
also help to make an area appear larger.
Use blooming plants to highlight an area that would otherwise be
un-noticeable or unappealing.
Popular Blooming Shade Plants
Caladiums- This South American tuber is valued for its beautiful foliage.
With arrow or heart shaped leaves, this wonderful plant has a unique color
which can range from red, green, silver and white, along with different hues of
pink. These plants grow to about 12 inches tall and will enhance any shrub
border or flower bed. They also work well in containers. They grow equally well
in dense shade or in light and prefer well drained soil that is kept relatively
moist. To maintain attractive plants, cut any dead leaves back to the stalk.
This will encourage new growth.
Camellias- The common Camellia, or Camellia Japonica, is a broad-leaved
evergreen shrub. Its attractive dense, shiny, dark green foliage compliments
the plants blossoms perfectly. They blend nicely with other broadleaved
evergreens, and are frequently mixed in shrub borders. Camellias commonly grow
6 to 12 feet tall, but may reach 20 feet tall in old age. From October to May,
depending on the cultivar, these plants are a mass of color. Colors range from
white, to every shade of pink, and also red.
Coleus- Coleus or Coleus X Hybridus, offers and incredible diversity of
foliage colors, shapes and sizes. The leaves may be velvety or rough and
crinkled. They may be one solid color or several colors in varying shades of
pink, red, bronze, yellow, maroon, green and even chartreuse. They grow from 6
to 36 inches tall. Keep the plants full by periodically cutting the stems back
several inches. They grow best in medium to light shade, with rich,
well-drained soil that is kept evenly moist.
Fuchsias- The colorful magenta, white and pink blossoms of fuchsias brighten
any shaded spot. Upright varieties can reach heights of up to ten feet. This
plant is also an attractant for hummingbirds. They prefer dense to light shade.
Most are hardy only in Zones 9 and 10 and require well drained soil that is
high in organic matter. To encourage blooms, remove fading blooms and pinch the
stem tips to keep the plant full.
Hostas- The lush, subtly colored foliage of the hostas makes them a welcome
addition to any shade garden. Hostas, also known as plantain lilies, are
ideally suited to dense to light shade around trees and shrubs. These
perennials are hardy outdoors to Zone 3. They prefer rich, well drained soil
that is kept evenly moist. The leaves of this plant can grow to 2 ½ feet high
and up to 40 inches across. Slugs and snails love to feast on hostas; protect
plants with baits available at your local nursery.
Enjoy Your New Garden
So you’ve done all of the hard work and the garden is in. Remember that all
gardens require some amount of work to keep them looking well. Approach this
work not as a chore, but instead, as a hobby. You will enjoy your garden even
more and at the same time be keeping it well groomed. Enjoy…