Shade Garden Tips - How to Design a Relaxing, Beautiful Shade Garden

Lots of gardeners are more in favor of sunny spotsGarden
and will avoid placing their gardens in the shade. YouShade garden plants should have white or pastel
see, they think it's too difficult to grow anythingflowers... they'll stand out in the dark of the shady
there!areas of your garden!
I find that to be very sad because they are missingMy favorites are: Foxglove, Daylilies, Primroses,
out on a huge benefit of shade gardens: a uniqueImpatiens, Forget-Me-Nots and Pansy.
beauty that gives you a refreshing rest from the hotFor anchor plants make sure to use evergreens or
sun.grasses and not just in one place - use them several
I want you to have that luxury and that's why I'mtimes in your garden! I like plants with big, coarse
going to share some tips on how to design yourleaves and shrubs like viburnum and hydrangea.
shade garden.Perennials like canna and iris work great too!
The first, most important thing you can do is theThe bigger plants will cause some visual gaps so you'll
same for any garden - shade or not - you need towant to use smaller shrubs to fill them in. Go ahead
plan it out!and use boxwood and Compacta holly - they work
Start by investigating that shady spot you're thinkinggreat!
of: are there any weeds growing? If not then that'sUse Colorful Flowers To Offset All That Green
a bad thing - if weeds aren't growing, it's likelyI like the silver tones of wormwood and bulks like
nothing else will grow either!daffodils and grape hyacinth. These do really well in
Go ahead and get some graph paper - don't worry,the shade!
you don't need to be an artist! - but you *do* needI have lots of people ask me: "What if my flowers
to sketch in whatever trees and buildings providehave difficulty growing in the shade?"
shade and (this part is important so make sure you'reNo problem! Just use pots or containers to plant your
paying attention!) make note of what times and howflowers and place them in your shade garden.
long the sun crosses over that spot!It's Not Just About Plants And Flowers... Make Sure
Remember to consider what time of year it is, sinceYou Don't Forget This Crucial Part
shade could be seasonal! Also make sure you have aThe success of your shady garden is not just about
water supply that can reach that spot.planting the right stuff... you also need to have good
Another thing people often forget when designing asoil and proper drainage!
shade garden: they forget about light! I recommendPreparing the soil is nothing fancy or different from
placing a dim light around the shady patch"sunny gardens" - use a good organic compost and
What Type Of Plants To Include In Your Shadespread it with mulch.