Shade gardens more
than ferns and ivy
May 12, 2005
Shade gardening can be almost as colorful as
gardening in the sun. When shade gardening, you need to consider what kind of shade
you have for your intended location - light shade, deep shade, dappled shade
(just bits of sunshine coming through a canopy of trees or covering), morning
shade, or evening shade. When you reach your decision, you may then start to
work on your bed.
You may have an existing bed that just needs
to be worked a bit with amendments made. Of course, you know you must remove
any existing weeds. Make sure your soil is loose or easily crumbled. This can
be attained by adding some good composted mulch, some sand or gypsum or, if you
have the very hard "gumbo" soil that is so prevalent in our area,
some composted manure and some good slow-release plant food. You need to work
this bed up a few days before you plant your new plants. Make sure everything
is well mixed in your bed and water in.
If you are starting a new bed, I am an
advocate of raised beds. I am also an advocate of using the newspaper method
and adding all the soil and other amendments.
However, you will need at least a month if
you plan to make this type of bed. If you are wanting
to get that bed in now, I would recommend using the digging and adding method.
For more information on these methods, refer to an article I wrote previously
on bed preparation that was published on Jan. 20 in this column. It is archived
on the Master Gardener Web site at: http://www.vcmga.org/2005_Jan20.html
If you are making a new bed without using the
newspaper, you just dig your existing soil and start adding the good things to
make a rich, friable, workable soil. All these methods are good and work well.
It is just whatever you have in mind and how you want to do it. The most
important thing of all is to give your new plants a good start so you can enjoy
them.
Ferns perform very well in shade gardens and
there are so many lovely ones that you could plant in your new bed. Just check
with your local nursery and see what strikes your
fancy. There are also different types of ivy that you could use. If you chose
to make your bed using these plants, you could have a pleasing bed. However, I
personally need more color in my landscape and even though you will be
gardening in some sort of shaded bed, you do have many choices that can be very
colorful.
Plant choices
Another thing to consider besides color is
texture in your new bed.
How about the cast iron plant? It has long
leaves that add so much shape and texture to a bed.
Elephant ears also come to mind. I just love
the very large leaves, and now they come in several varieties. The ones with
black leaves are spectacular in a bed. I also am experimenting with one that
has white ribs. It is called Trybec and I am
anxiously waiting to see how it summers. I also have one that has dark purple
stems called Rubra that handles our summers very
well.
Caladiums very readily come to mind as
another shade garden specialty. There are many varieties and now is the ideal
time to get them into the ground. They will take our hot summers and will
reward you with their lovely colors for a few months. They will die back when
the weather gets cooler, but will sometimes return in the spring. Usually when
they do, the leaves are much smaller, but the colors are just as vibrant. I
have had them return for a couple of years, so I am left with the feeling that
I have truly gotten my money's worth from the bulbs.
There are many other plants that are
excellent in a shaded area. How about blooming plants
like the hydrangea? You really have to add a lot of composted peat if you are
brave enough to try this, but it's so worth the effort.
Impatiens are another choice. They have those wonderful jewel
colors that I find so desirable in the garden. Every now and then you might be
so lucky as to have some that will re-seed.
Gingers would be a great selection, and there
are so many varieties. I have several and find them a little challenging
sometimes to get started, but once they are established they seem to do well.
They are one of my favorites since they are not only beautiful, but are
fragrant and make good cut flowers.
If you like evening bloomers, you might plant
the old fashioned four o'clock. I have several varieties and just this year,
planted a lime green one that I am anxiously waiting to see. They are very good
bloomers, with lovely little blooms and are fragrant. Once started, mine have
re-seeded for years now.
I visited with Laurie Garretson at Earthworks
Nursery and she gave me an extensive list of shade plants. I do have some of
the ones she recommended, some I have never seen, and some I plan to get. They
are nandina, variegated pittisporium,
azaleas (again, you really have to amend your soil with a lot of good composted
peat, but it is worth the effort), begonias, torenia,
I would encourage you to try something new in
your beds. You never know what is waiting for you.
I am currently contemplating trying a gunnera. This plant gets huge - about 15 feet tall. It has
leaves that get about 4 feet across. If I do try it, I will take some of the
little plants and donate them to a future master gardener plant sale out near
Speaking of VEG, it currently takes a direct
west sun, but plans for the new expansion call for mini gardens to continue
around the Officer's Club building and to the east, including a more shaded
area. Look for more information on the expansion coming soon.