Shade Gardening

For most people living in the city, Shade gardening is the reality that they have to deal with every day. For the most part, the formal English and full sun gardens are out of the question. Small back yards with high fences to for privacy, large trees, tall building, and our penchant for large houses all have contributed to a shady urban garden landscape. It is highly probable that you have, at the least, one shady spot in your garden that is in need of help. Below is a list of the types of shade gardens and the plants best suited to them for colour and maintenance.

Deep Shade

Deep shade gardens are areas without much or any light, direct or indirect. These naturally occur under large densely leaved trees and tree groupings, deciduous or coniferous. One way around this problem area would be to thin out the trees, prune the canopy, or in the case of the conifer prune up from the ground several feet, exposing the ground to indirect light. Other areas of deep shade occur beside high fences and wall, practically those facing north.

Plants that can do well in this type of deep shade would be mostly woodland plants, especially those from your zone and area.

Here is a list of deep shade plant:

Aucuba (spotted laurel) Shrub
Cornus (dogwood) shrub
Euonymus (pindle) shrub
Lamium (dead nettle) plant
Milium (millet) grass
Rosa (rose) climber
Schizphrgma climber
Lonicera (honeysuckle) climber
Hydrangea

Dappled Shade

These gardens are generally under loose foliage trees or woody areas. The light received in these garden areas is a mixture of spotted light and shade that tends to stay the same during the day. There are many plants that thrive in this type of setting, mostly woodland varieties, but you may be able to plant some sunloving plants that are able to adapt to lower light conditions.

Here is a list of dappled sunlight plants:

Windflower (Anemone nemorosa)
Primrose (Primula)vulgaris)
Blue bells (Endymion non-scriptus)
Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarsissus)
Wild Foxglove (Digitalis purpruea)
Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)
Azaleas
Rhododendron
Lily (Lilium)
Solomon’s seal (Polygonamatum)
Trilliums

Partial Shade

Partial shade is an ambiguous term used for areas that get some direct sunlight during the day and indirect for the rest. Most sun loving plants will adapt to this type of setting as will dappled shade plants

With a little forethought and planning, you can beat the shade and have a great garden in these problem areas of your yard.