How to Create a Shady Garden

Most plants thrive well under the sun so what happens on those shady areas outside your house? You can’t keep them barren and unattended or else it will just ruin the outdoor beauty of your place. There are lots of plant varieties that grow well in cool areas and don’t need the direct heat of the sun.

Small homes in urban areas are mostly surrounded by tall buildings and walls which makes it hard for the sun to penetrate the ground. Creating a garden in shady spots can be challenging but it’s worth all the effort and time afterwards.

Best Plants in Shades

Making a good garden in shady portions of your front house may seem daunting but it is not impossible. The secret of this garden is choosing the best plants that grow well in this kind of environment.

• Camelias – most shrubs and flowering plants in shady areas are actually vibrant and exciting. This variety of plant has glossy, dark green foliage which complement its pink, orange and white blooms.
• Toad Lily – this is a perennial that grows easily all year round. This looks good on its white flowers towering massive low shrubs.
• Ajuga – this plant is known for its massive and glossy foliage with blue flowers. It spreads easily, perfect for large shady areas.
• Hostas – this is the most common plants found in shady gardens. They showcase their dominant large leaves which are available in dark green, blue and gold shades. Also, they are easy to grow and sturdy, ideal for zone 3-8 areas.
• Evergreen Ferns – among the many favorites of gardeners, nobody can miss this foliage. They grow superbly in shady areas, whether in pots, beds or planters. Its leaves seem to be soft and waving, adding texture for an appealing garden setting.
• Bleeding Heart – this unique plant has a heart-shaped flower dripping. Its tiny blossoms are usually the highlight in the shady garden. It comes in other varieties so you can choose which one suits your garden theme.

Categorize the Level of Shade

When planning to create a lovely garden in an area where light is not available, and before choosing the type of plant to consider, it is best to determine the degree of shade. This way you can properly recognize which plants will grow healthy in the kind of environment and situation.

• Light Shade – this is the usual scenario if you house is beside a high wall. The garden is open but the shadow of the tall wall or trees cover most of the area.
• Partially Shaded – this setting is where the sun supplies light in the area at least 3-4 hours a day.
• Severely Shaded – this is in a scenario when the entire area is covered by shades or shadows, the sun can’t penetrate to give light.

There are limitless ways to create your own garden at home regardless of the setting and scenario. It actually depends on your creativity on how to input genuine ideas on your garden to make it appear brighter even without the presence of the sun. These lovely flowers in cool areas are usually the most fragrant and appealing – this is nature’s way of balancing things out. So keep in mind to always choose a variety of plant that is appropriate on the degree of shades in your garden.