A Shade Garden can be a rare botanical experience that almost seems naturally occurring when properly executed. It is subtle and restful. Bright colors are used sparingly as accents, while textures and architecture are the focus. It will be a very tidy space because weeds usually will not grow in the low light, but the free forms of your vigorous shade perennials and rampant groundcovers and climbers will still create a very organic assemblage of flora as your shade garden matures. It will be rugged, woody, and, ideally, more of an escape than any other gardening project. In a large enough space, effectively secluded, with a path and perhaps a rustic bench, you could really get away from the bustle in your brand new shade garden.

Plant Selection And Shade Garden Design

Shade gardens are in the dark, obviously, and the deep colors that exist in your sunny annual flower beds will not stand out, even if you could grow them in the shade. You must choose light-colored foliage and flowers that will really stand out in the shade. However, if you must, there are also a few plants that have deep-colored foliage and flowers that will grow in your shade garden, like wax begonias and coleus. With a little creative juxtaposition with brighter plants, you could create enough contrast to better accentuate the deep colors you like. Keep in mind that the essence of the shade garden is subtlety, and strongly contrasting colors concentrated in one area of your shade garden could distract from the overall project.

Shade perennials, like phlox, daylilies, Lenten roses, and astilbe in white and silvery shades, will add bright accents. For interesting foliage and texture, plant some heuchera, clump bamboo, ferns and, of course, various hostas. If you want to plant shade annuals, there are a few choices, but keep in mind that most annuals will not do very well in full shade and may need a little morning sun or filtered sunlight throughout the day. Try shade annual varieties like wax begonia, impatiens, coleus, elephant ears, calla lilies, and canna. For groundcover in your shade garden, vinca, English ivy or epimendiums will work well. English ivy is very popular, and vinca is especially well-adapted to the shade. But be prepared–shade ground-covers can be very vigorous.

Shade Garden Care

Large trees require lots of water and nutrients, and it may be difficult for anything to grow underneath them. If you are planting your shade garden under trees, you need to amend the soil below them. Add a few inches of organic material/topsoil for your plants, because the existing soil has probably been exhausted by the trees.

Plant your shade garden in the springtime before it gets hot, so that the roots will have plenty of time to establish. Water regularly–weekly deep watering (i.e., letting water soak deep into the soil for a little while) will be better than daily superficial waterings that would cause shallow root development. The weekly waterings are also very good for the trees. To hold in moisture, use a good mulch, such as leaf mold, shredded bark, or wood chips. The shredded fall leaves of your shade trees make a perfect mulch. You can simply run over the leaves with a mower or use a chipper to shred them. Keep the mulch off of the perennial crowns and the bases of your trees to prevent disease and rotting.

With a little creativity and the proper care, you can create your own mild little haven and spend those hot summer days out of the sun, enjoying the subtle beauty of your very own shade garden.

Thomas Andrews is a garden writer for Wayside Gardens, an Online and Mail-Order provider of Perennials, Roses, Trees and Shrubs for American Gardens.

Source: Thomas Andrews