Want to cool off in the garden this summer? Then plant a shade garden. It’s easy to create a shady retreat under tall trees, next to the shady side of the house and garage or to plant a small garden in an underused space.
Some gardeners shun the shade because they think it’s too challenging to plant where the sun doesn’t shine. But there are plenty of opportunities to plant a green and growing garden in the shade. Shade gardening is all about foliage color, shape, size, and texture.
The key to gardening in shade is to carefully match the plants to the site and to each other. A simple combination of hosta plants in different sizes mixed together with colorful impatiens will add depth and color to just about any shady spot.
For a fun take on a kitchen garden, look for plants that are named after favorite foods. Hostas are especially appetizing in a shade garden when they have names like ‘Java’, ‘Cookie Crumbs’, ‘Peanut’ and ‘Squash Casserole’.
Impatiens typically perform well in partial shade with early morning or late afternoon sun. Good colors for shade include deep pink, salmon and violet.
The colorful foliage of coleus plants can add striking texture to the shade garden. New varieties feature bright and novel colors, like burgundy tinged green leaves or multicolored plants with finely textured foliage.
Another simple way to start planting in shade is to plant in different sizes of containers. Mix or match the container materials for added interest and then fill them with an assortment of shade-loving plants. Tall ornamental grasses, daylilies and tuberous begonias all work well together in shade.
In deep shade gardens, fountains, bird baths, statues, urns and tall obelisks add structure and can take up large spaces. If there’s room in your shade garden, a garden bench or table and chairs makes for a cool seating area.
Use groundcovers to provide the finishing touch. Vinca can act as a green carpet with shiny, dense foliage and small lavender or blue flowers. Dead nettle is another groundcover that adds texture to the shade garden with silvery foliage and small flowers.
What else would you add to your shade garden to make it a perfect place to relax this summer?
