How to Design a Low Maintenance Perennial Shade Garden

Hostas are one choice for a low-maintenance shade garden.

Shade can be a challenge for a gardener. Most plants prefer sun, and shade areas can have particular issues, such as competing tree roots, wet spots, or poor soil. By taking all these factors into account, you can design a beautiful shade garden full of perennial plants that will be easy to care for. Spending some time planning before planting will insure your gardening success.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Observe the proposed planting site to determine if the shade constant throughout the day, or only shady in the morning or in the afternoon. Check weather the shade is complete, or dappled shade that comes through tree canopy. The amount of sun reaching the spot influences your plant choices.

2. Identify your USDA gardening zone. The United States Department of Agriculture has divided the country into 11 gardening zones, based on average minimum temperature. Most plants cannot survive below temperatures found in their native environments. By selecting suitable plants for your gardening zone, you increase the chances of success. If you do not know your zone, your local nursery professionals will be able to tell you.

3. Measure the site where you plan on establishing your shade garden. When choosing plants, it is important to know how much room you have, and take into account the plant's mature size. Over-planting is a common gardening mistake. Crowded plants are more susceptible to disease.

4. Examine your soil to determine whether it is rich with organic materials and drains well, or if it will need additional compost. When the soil in your shaded area is poor, you can find compost at your local nursery or home improvement center to improve soil quality.

5. Check the ground in your site. Often shady areas are filled with tree roots. Roots can be difficult to garden around, and if damaged while digging, may injure or kill the tree. You can work around a tree root problem by placing containers filled with shade-loving plants in areas where tree roots prevent digging.

6. Visit your local nursery and talk to the professionals there about suitable plant choices for your shady garden. You can also spend time online reading and gathering information from gardening websites.

7. A few colorful, easy-maintenance perennial plants that thrive in the shade are hostas, coral bells, astilbe, ferns and monarda. All of these come in a range of colors and sizes, and can be found at your local nursery. Choose plants that appeal to your sense of color and style. A garden is a personal expression of your creativity and tastes.

References

• Iowa State University Extension Horticulture & Home Pest News; Low-Maintenance Perennials; Richard Jauron; 2004
• University of Minnesota Extension; Gardening in the Shade; Deborah L. Brown; 2011
• University of Missouri Extension Infonet; Perennial For Shade; Dennis Patton