Shade gardens provide a cool, refreshing retreat on scorching summer days. These serene spaces naturally draw in plants with cooler hues, such as blue, purple, and green, fostering an atmosphere of tranquility. The key to a thriving shade garden lies in selecting perennials, evergreens, and annuals that flourish in low-light conditions.
SO, WHAT IS SHADE ANYWAY?
First a bit of clarity, shade is not darkness. All plants need sunlight to grow, however, the level that they need will vary depending on the variety.
Shade is defined as any area in your garden that gets less than 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. Plants that prefer this lower level of light, often tend to like either morning or late afternoon sunlight as it tends to be a bit cooler.
WHY DOES KNOWING THE LIGHT LEVEL OF PLANTS MATTER?
Unlike animals, plants are stationary, which means they've evolved strategies over millennia to ensure their health. To leverage these natural strengths, it's crucial to plant them in environments that mimic their natural habitats. When placed in the right conditions, plants will thrive.
Conversely, planting a sun-loving plant in the shade or a shade-loving plant in full sun can lead to stress, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases. Ensuring that plants are situated in their preferred light conditions sets them up for success.
An easy way to determine a plant's preferred light level is to consult an online plant guide or ask your local garden center. Generally, plants with bright yellow, orange, or red in their leaves or flowers are sun lovers. However, there are exceptions, such as the bright blooms of Astilbe, which can burn in direct sunlight.
FIVE OF OUR FAVOURITE SHADE LOVERS:
1. HYDRANGEA
Available in a wide range of varieties including shrubs, vines and even trees, the colourful blooms of hydrangea will fill your shade garden with colour and fragrance. These resilient, low maintenance shrubs don’t even mind the cold, in fact, some varieties are rated as a zone 3.
2. ASTILBE
Add texture and a bit of drama to your shade bed with the feathery, lengthy, bloom of Astilbe. Available in a range of colours including bright red and pastel pink, this perennial will fill your garden with its beautiful bloom all summer long.
3. HOSTAS
Known for their dramatic foliage, hostas are a beautiful addition to any perennial shade garden. These plants prefer rich, moist soil, products like Garden Gallery’s Organic Triple Mix, can be added to provide the nutrient-dense soil that these plants love. Although they do bloom, it is the beautiful tones and variegation of their foliage that make them one of the top perennials for Ontario shade gardens. For best results: plant variegated hostas in areas with filtered sunlight as the lighter tones do require a bit more sunlight.
4. FERNS
If you’ve wandered any forest, you will notice ferns peeking in almost every corner and for good reason. This delicate looking species of plants love popping up in darker corners, which makes them a natural addition to any shade garden. These easy to grow plants prefer rich, moist soil similar to what you find on the ground of your local forest. When choosing your fern, double check the zone. Zone 4 or lower are ideal if you’re looking for a fern that will return year after year.
5. YEWS
Evergreens add year-round foliage making them a garden favourite. Japanese and Hick Yews are two varieties that will grow well in indirect sunlight, making them the perfect addition if you’re looking to add a hedge or a bit of height to your garden. These easy to grow shrubs, are known for their small needles and bright red berries.
Comments
Thanks you for your article on shade gardens. The timing is perfect as we just had a new fence installed along our back so I am now putting in new shade gardens. Thanks for the advice. See you soon!