Not all gardens are the same. Some gardens have too much shade and others not enough. You may be thinking that there aren’t many plants you can grow in shade, but there are plenty of shade perennials worth trying. Here in the Mid-South, even plants that are considered full sun actually appreciate a little afternoon shade. There are a few tips that can make shade gardening with perennials a breeze, like assessing your site, creating the amount of shade you want, and choosing plants that will do well in your area.
Shade Gardening Tips
The first tip for planting shade perennials is to choose a location that has little competition from shallow-rooted trees like maples, sweetgums, and dogwoods. The term “shallow roots” means exactly what it says. Tree roots grow on the surface of the soil. This causes a problem with competition for water and nutrients if you plant perennials around these roots. Giving your plants a good growing environment with little competition is the first step to a great garden. The second tip is to assess your site before planting.
Evaluation of your site
It is important to assess your site and identify the light and shade levels for that area. Just walk around your garden and see which areas get full sun and which areas are really shady. Remember, light levels change throughout the year as the seasons change and trees grow or grow to maturity. Keep notes in a journal about which areas get shade in the morning, midday, and early afternoon. Note whether the area is in full shade, partial shade, or full sun. For the beginning gardener, those terms can be a bit confusing. Here’s a quick introduction to what those terms mean.
full shadow areas have a dense canopy where no direct sunlight penetrates, or perhaps the plant is shaded by an evergreen tree or building all day.
partial shade means that the garden receives dappled shade throughout the day. This simply means that you can see some portions of the sky through the leaves above you. Another type of partial shade is the garden which is more densely shaded for part of the day but receives intense sunlight for two to six hours.
The third type of area is full sun meaning the area receives at least six hours of direct sunlight during the day. Once you have evaluated your site and understand what type of shadow it has. Next, you may want to create the amount of shade you want for your garden.
Create the amount of shadow you want
The third tip for increasing your success with shade gardening is to try to alter the amount of light entering your shade garden bed to suit your needs and the needs of the plants you want to plant. Prune trees to decrease the amount of shade and create a tall canopy that your plants will love. This also creates more airflow which is healthy for you and your plants as it reduces mold and mildew. To create more shade; plant trees, add walls and fences, build a clapboard house or put shade cloth over a simple plastic pipe structure, build a gazebo or gazebo. Using vines on structures is also a quick way to create more shade.
Choose the right plants for your area
Once you’ve assessed your area and created the type of shade you want, you’re ready to plant. Go to your local garden center, or your local extension service’s website, for a list of plants that do well in your area. You will find a lot of information. Below is a list of some of the best shade-loving perennial artists for the Mid South.
Ten Perennial Shade Plants for the Middle South
- Italian hoop (cursive arum)
- north sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
- green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum)
- cardinal flower (Lobelia Cardinalis)
- Solomon’s seal (Polyanatum odoratum)
- spider (Tradescantia x Andersoniana)
- Lenten rose (Hellebore spp.)
- sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)
- Astilbe (Astilbe x Arendsii)
- toad lily (Tricyrtus formosana)
Visiting local botanical and public gardens, attending local garden tours, joining local garden clubs, and visiting your local extension service’s website is a great way to learn more about perennials that work well in your garden. area.
Given the right conditions, your plants will thrive. Remember, weed out the competition, assess your site, create the amount of shade you want, and you’ll be on your way to a beautiful garden you’ll enjoy all season. Note that there are also ferns, vines, annuals, and shrubs that do well in the shade. As a general rule, plants that do well in the shade have large, flat leaves that help them absorb light for photosynthesis and growth. They will generally have fewer flowers and seeds than plants that grow in the sun. Think about foliage, color and texture for the shady areas of your garden. This list of ten shade perennials is a good starting point for Mid-South gardeners, but part of the fun of gardening is experimenting with different types of plants, so be sure to get out there and find the plants that suit your needs. your needs. list of “favorites” and enjoy the ride.