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Some folks lament having too much shade - not having the space for
the bright color you get from the sun-loving plants.� The way a sunny
border jumps out and grabs your attention is nice indeed.��But don't
overlook the depth and richness of a well-designed and cared for shade garden. The shade garden
will draw you in - it invites intimacy.� The greens (which is the
predominant color in most all gardens) are deeper and cooler.� The blend of
shapes, textures, and shades are more pronounced without the glare
of the sun.
 Don't
think there's not an opportunity for color!� Astilbes
�, Bleeding Heart,
and Primrose come in some pretty vivid colors. Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
though white is an impressive shade dweller. Of course, if you're
dealing with light shade - 2 to 4 hours of sun early in the day -
there's a whole range of possibilities.� We have a selection of
nursery-grown woodland wildflowers also.�
We list the plants in groups of the most famous shade
dweller.�There are many more wonderful shade-loving plants.� To see all our shade plants to to
By Traits/Light
Needs/Shade or use the Advanced Search for a more specific list.
Soil and Garden Preparations
Most shade plants, prefer a woodland type soil - that is,
high in humus (50% to 75%) and acidic (5.5pH or lower). Let�s repeat the mantra - prepare the soil well before planting (repeat
as often as needed). Work the soil as deep as you can and add any rock
minerals (phosphates, potash, bone meal, etc) needed based on your soil test.
Thorough preparation of soil before planting is best (this is
the 1st rule of all perennial gardening). However, the use of readily decaying
mulches like shredded leaves, leaf compost or composted manures will continue
to add to the soil. A bed maintained in this manner should require minimal
addition of chemical fertilizers; however, a lot of decaying matter can
temporarily rob nitrogen from the soil. Watch foliage color for signs of
nitrogen deficiency.
Planting a Shade Garden
After you�ve developed a loom that�s a pleasure just to touch and smell,
dig a hole about twice as big as your roots.� Planting depth will differ
depending on the variety. Generally, set the plant at
the same depth as it was in the container. Bareroot hosta and
plants with similar root structure, should be planted an inch or so below the
surface. Plant ferns and others with a more pronounced crown at soil level.�
Remember that newly work soil will settle around the plants and may expose
roots you thought were covered.� Adequate spacing should be maintained
between plants to allow them to exhibit their natural beauty. Exact spacing
will depend on the variety.
Shade Garden Maintenance
Maintaining a layer of
decaying mulch as mentioned above is important. Avoid deep cultivation around
the plants since many shade plants have rhizomes or shallow roots creeping just under the surface of
the soil. During dry spells, give your plants some extra water but make sure the soil
has a chance to dry out between watering. Under normal conditions, the shade
garden needs very little care beyond a renewed layer of mulch and the tree
canopy may provide much this. A particularly heavy covering of leaves could
smoother some of your plants so you may need to remove some leaves. The
addition of a balanced fertilizer in early summer will encourage new leaf
growth and bring out the potential beauty of your plants.�
Dividing your plants is, of course, very
dependant on the variety and your preferences. Generally, plants in the shade
garden will be slower growing and less in need of division. If you need or
want to divide your plants, spring is the best time.
A Word about Hostas
Hosta improve greatly with age and often don't show their true form for 4 to 5 years
and, if divided before that, they start the maturing process over again. If you
feel the need to divide your plants it is easy, assuming they are not real large - in which case they might be
tough to get out of the ground.� But, once out of the ground, just pry them
apart or, if necessary, cut them apart with a large knife.� If you have top
growth cut it back to about 2 inches.� Like daylilies, they are pretty
unforgiving.� This is can be
done in either late summer (September) or early spring before any growth appears.�
Though some varieties tolerate the sun, hosta grow best in a shady area out of direct sun. Most do
okay with a
few hours of morning sun and dappled light. Obviously hosta will grow in direct
sun - I�m sure you have seen some out in someone�s front yard - but the lushness that develops when grown under the right conditions tells the story.
In addition to shade, hosta like a rich, moist - but well-drained soil.
�View Hosta
A Word about Ferns
These are the plants whose ancestors greened the planet
before the conifers and flowering plants evolved. They have survived the
dinosaurs; so, there�s no reason they can�t survive in your garden.
Though most ferns do best in moist shaded location, others will
tolerated moderately dry soils and some direct light. Their fine texture
and graceful form contrasts well with the bold foliage of other shade
lovers like hostas, helibores, rodgersia and mayapples; and, blend with
the similar structure of astilbes.
Ferns can be divided although it is usually not necessary for
the health of the plant. Spring is the best time to divide ferns if
desired. Ferns become increasingly beautiful with each passing year when
left undisturbed.�
Once established ferns will spread readily and are very long lived -
we�re talking 20 years and more.View Ferns
A Word about Astilbe
Astilbe must be one of my favorite perennials for the shade. They come in a range of colors and sizes making them an ideal choice for adding color and texture to the shade garden. In addition to the attractive plume-like blooms the foliage ranges from deep green through bronze to rich burgandy. And, the foliage remains attractive throughout the season. If you need more, allow the spent flowers to stand into the winter for an added element in the landscape. Astilbe can some sun but again early morning sun is best. Exposed to harsh sunshine the colors, especially the pinks, will fade. Don't neglect their moisture. They can be unforgiving if allow to dry out. Here again a layer of organic mulch is helpful.�View Astilbe
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