Shade garden

Shade gardens are gardens planted and grown in areas with little or no direct sunlight during the day, either under trees or on the shady sides of buildings. Shade gardening presents certain challenges, in part because only certain plants are able to grow in shady conditions. Very few edible plants grow well in shady conditions, so shade gardens are usually ornamental gardens.

Aside from the lack of light, shade gardens under large trees also tend to have very dry soils, because the trees use much of the available water.

Designing a shade garden doesn't have to be boring. Plant colors may not be as bold as in a sunny location, but gardeners can create interest by selecting plants with varying form, texture, height and color. A good key to remember is to plant "cool" colors in the shade- purples and blues will be much bolder and striking than "warm" colors such as reds and oranges, which are more dramatically placed in sunny locations.

Shade gardening offers a chance to use plants not seen in the sunnier garden. There are many flowers that grow and bloom into some of the most beautiful flowers. The pleasure of flower shade gardening can be easy with a little research and preparation.

Not every flower does well in a shaded area. Some concerns are:

• what is the best type of soil to use
• how much and how often to water your flowers
• plant food that needs to be used
• and some general planting tips for planting flowers in the shade.

In many yards, there may be trees or shrubs around the area near the garden. If such a case, there will be competition among the roots of the trees and the new flowers. Moisture and food that is needed for the survival of the garden will be at a premium.

Soil considerations

The soil is also a concern. Most flowers will thrive in the shade in the leaf litter from trees. Leaving the leaves on the ground may mat the floor of the garden making it difficult for the flowers to pop up into the sun light. Mulching the leaves with a lawn mower speeds decomposition.

Slow release fertilizer to the soil can improve the health and well being of the plants.

Watering

Testing for moisture content is essential. If the soil gets dry, it must be watered sufficiently for moisture to reach the roots of the plants.

There are many flowers to choose from that would be great in a shade garden, depending on the climate where the garden is situated. Some may need to be planted in areas that have partial shade, while others will be fine in a shadier space. The different types of shaded areas can have a very big impact on the flowers planted. There is dry shade and moist or even wet shade. Dry shade is usually where there are roots to contend with. Wet or moist soil requires plants that like that environment.

With proper preparation and research on flower shade gardening, a shaded area can become a valued garden.