Our Woodland Walk in Summer
We all have some shade in the garden and for most of us, it can be a problem when it comes to growing interesting plants. I have a particularly shady garden, with a long expanse of north facing border behind the house and a woodland area shaded by mature lime trees. They may have shade in common but actually they are a very different gardening prospect.
What Causes Your Shade?
It's important to establish what is causing your shade as it will affect what you can grow. For example, if your shady patch is caused by a line of large conifers in your neighbours garden, it is likely that the border is dry and the soil low in nutrients. Shade caused by buildings or fences, like that in my north border, often means that the area can get some sunshine in midsummer as the sun rises high enough over a building or moves around to the east or west in the morning and evening. Shade from buildings often has wetter, heavier soil but can also be rich in nutrients. Perhaps your shade is caused by large mature deciduous trees, like my woodland walk with its mature limes, which brings plenty of early spring and late autumn sunshine but gives dry beds in summer. Determine the cause of your shade and you can plan what to do next!
The Shady North Border in Winter
How to Prepare a Shady Spot? - It's All About the Soil
Dry Shade
This is often the most difficult and limiting. Plants need water after all! Work in some organic matter into the soil so that it is given a better structure which is more likely to allow your plants to grow successfully. The more the merrier here; your own compost will be cheapest but you could buy peat free from garden centres. If your shade is seasonal e.g. caused by deciduous trees, then consider when you start your planting. If you plant in spring, your plants will need a water all through the summer to get them established. However, planting in autumn will enable the winter rains to do the job for you and a light water may be all the plants need the next summer. Here your border is likely to need a top up of organic matter if not annually then certainly every other year.
Damp Shade
How wet are we talking? Full on bog garden or the classic new build thick wet clay?
If it's so wet that water stands, then you should possibly consider using bog plants. There are a few that will happily grow in these conditions but often they are quite tender, so not ideal for a cold north facing spot (I'm not covering these plants today). However, for most of us the problem will be clay soil. We can spend time adding grit, sand and organic matter, but I know from experience that digging in heavy clay is back breaking work. As long as your soil doesn't back fill with water, like digging a hole near the sea on a sandy beach, you can plant it. Have organic matter to hand though and a sack of grit as those planting holes are a great opportunity to start adding to improve the soil longer term.
Stems of Cornus Alba and Red Leaves of Photinia
What to Plant?
My Top Ten Plants for Dry Shade
1.Fatsia Japonica - Big, shiny exotic looking leaves and evergreen. It will do well as long as your garden is not too cold or your shade provides some protection from the coldest weather. They survive in my frost pocket garden with just shelter from other plants.
2. Sarcococca Confusa - Another shrub and another evergreen. This one flowers in winter and is known for its scent.
3. Euonymous Fortunei - This may take a little while to establish but stick with it. It comes in many variegated leaf colours. I prefer the white and green but I do also have the yellow and green. The leaves stand out in any shade and they're also evergreen.
4. Geranium Phaeum - I have deep purple and white varieties of this herbaceous perennial. Once established its happy to self seed but can easily be pulled up if needed, I rarely do. It flowers in early summer and has pretty markings on its leaves.
Geranium Phaeum
5. Geranium Macrorrhizum - It's a ground cover spreader this one and great to fill areas that are just a pain. It has lovely pink flowers and is pretty tough.
6. Bulbs and Coums - Well not just one plant included here! There are plenty of bulbs such as snowdrops and bluebells who enjoy a well drained soil. They will do particularly well in dappled shade but I'd give them a go in full shade too. I would also try cyclamen coums. Make sure they are the hardy type though, not those that sell as bedding plants in autumn they're just not hardy enough.
7.Lamium - Sometimes known as a type of deadnettle. It is a low ground cover plant which is easy enough to cut back as needed. It has various flower colours and often variegated leaves. My preferred variety has pink flowers in late spring.
Pink Flowers of Lamium in Early Summer
8. Japanese Anenome - There are many types and its worth looking out for those with a decent height. I prefer the white ones personally but they are available in pink too. They can spread but I've not found them to be a problem.
9. Acanthus Mollis - Not for the faint hearted, it is very spiky! But it has majestic spears of flowers almost a metre tall, the bees love it and they make for very interesting flower arrangements. Sometimes said to be spreading but I think it's more the problem of its spikes should you ever need to pull some up.
Majestic Flower Spikes of Acanthus
10. Hosta (Plantain Lily) - Prefers shade and with drier soil there are less slugs after all!
My Top Ten Plants for Damp Shade
Photinia x Frasei (Red Robin) - A controversial start as some gardeners think of these as carpark shrubs! Personally, I love them as they are very good doers, evergreen and easily chopped back if needs be. They have fabulous red leaves on all new shoots. The shade means they may not flower but as that's my least favourite attribute then it's all good for me.
Cornus (Dogwood) - Any of them but don't just plant one. They have more impact in groups. Providing fabulous winter interest with their coloured stems, they'll flower in summer and have beautiful autumn leaf colour too. What's not to love with these? Cut them back hard in March to retain their stem colour for the next season. I have several of these all around the garden. In the north border it is the lime green, alba variety I use.
Hydrangea - Many of the hydrangeas prefer some shade and certainly don't want to dry out. For me, the white varieties look better in shade but I have Limelight rather enjoying itself with its lime green flowers too.
Fuschia (Mrs Popple) - Generally Fuschias are not hardy so seek out the hardy varieties. They may take a little while to establish and it's certainly best to avoid a spot that's very cold. Once they're going though you'll have flowers through late summer and autumn.
Phlox (Stolonifera alba) - This perennial has white flowers in early summer but there are many types and most will tolerate some shade. I've found it's worth while testing them in deeper shade too. They like to be kept moist but will return loyally every year.
Tiarella Cordiflora - A bit of low growing froth. Looks quite like a heuchera in style. Grows with pretty markings on its leaves and flowers in early summer/ late spring.
Hellebores - An absolute must! With heavy soil they will grow quite happily. There are so many varieties out there but are really the first flower of the new year, lasting through all the dull months and therefore could not be more worth their investment.
Floating Hellebore Flowers Showing the Range of Early Colour
8. Brunnera - Low growing plants with interesting leaf markings. They have beautiful, intense blue flowers in late spring. Very much worth looking out for and much admired in my garden.
9. Leucojum - There are two types, often referred to as the spring and summer snowflake respectively. In reality, they are like giant snowdrops and as such are completely stunning. Very much worth their place as spring/summer flowers.
10. Pulmonaria Officinalis - Again a plant of many varieties and therefore many colours. These are fairly low growing and can flower pretty much all year on and off. They love my garden and seem to be able to grow in the most unlikely of spots. A welcome addition.
I hope you have found my round up shade loving plants helpful, all of which do well in my garden here in Northants.
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