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.