Thriving in the shade

Is there a shady spot in your garden that you’ve neglected, deeming it unfit for flower plants, possibly under huge trees, in the balcony or around the house or fence, perhaps? Moss and lichens aren’t the only options.

There’s potential for a full-fledged shade-garden. You can even create a shady nook by putting up a huge canopy or awning for a shade-garden. You don’t have to be sceptical about flower plants thriving in the shade because plants flourish in the dense forest where tree-canopies block sunrays. Shade plants are usually hardy ones, entailing low-maintenance effort and enduring poor soil conditions.

What’s it all about?

So, what’s involved in shade-gardening? First, assess the light and shade conditions of the area. How many hours of sunlight does it receive every day and what kind of shade: dense or light? Classify areas into those receiving dappled sunlight, daylong dull light or occasional bright light besides the darkest nooks. Full shade is where there’s no direct sunlight all day, say, the house or the fence’s shadow. Where there are slanted sunrays in the early morning or late evening, it’s partial shade.

Dappled shade is where sunlight filters in through the leaves or branches. The shade under trees varies with the time of day and season. Particular plants adapt to each specific shade-type. So, match plant-type with shade-type. If even the toughest weed can’t raise its ugly head at a densely-shaded area, cede that spot to the elements, exempting it from your shade-garden!

You can modify the amount of light your shade-garden naturally receives to suit your plants’ needs by pruning tree branches, etc. To thicken or extend available shade, plant more trees, build an arbour or a gazebo, erect cloth canopies or set up vine-filled trellises/lattices. To enhance the amount of reflected sunlight for your shade plants, paint your wall-exteriors or fencing white.

Visit the nursery, consult green thumbs, browse through gardening books and surf the Internet to glean information about plant varieties suitable for your shade-garden. Edible plants aren’t comfortable in shade-garden conditions. Herbs grow in dappled sunlight. So, these gardens tend to be mostly ornamental. Perennials like canna and iris thrive in dappled shade. Bluebells, bleeding hearts and Columbine are other shade plants.

Foxglove, periwinkle and ground ivy are ground-cover shade plants. Annuals like begonias, coleus, impatiens and fuschia are also shade plants. Orchids, bamboo and climbing hydrangeas – all demand a sheltered habitat. Plant ferns, evergreens and grasses for contrast. Plants native to your area and disease-resistant ones yield bountiful blossoms. Confirm if other conditions like your shade-garden’s soil and surrounding plants are conducive to the plant species you select. As some plants maybe too invasive, watch them, checking such aggressive tendencies.

Shade gardens are usually created in the shade of trees. But, remember, shade plants appreciate well-drained, fertile soil and tree-shade generally spells drier soil. Moreover, tree-roots may imbibe all of the soil’s nutrients, leaving little for your shade plant. So, supplement with fertiliser and mulching.

But, overdoing the latter may only create warm havens for weevils and rats! Water regularly, especially when the soil under the mulch dries up. Beware of snails and slugs that relish cool, dark and damp spots. Trap them. Plus, falling leaves and debris of trees may choke your shade plants. Clear them regularly. While planting your shade beauties, take care not to damage the trees’ surface roots.

Young plants with shallow roots are recommended for easy planting under trees. Since most flowering shade plants grow best in dappled rather than full shade, shady spots under trees remain shade-gardeners’ favourite choice! Growing plants in pots facilitates their movement to suit changing light conditions. Some plants are sensitive to neighbouring species, while others love close company. Plant them accordingly.

Colourful garden art, neat walkways, comfortable seats, chairs, benches, water-features, light-hued rocks and artistic lighting – all have a place in your shade-garden. Only, place or construct them tastefully.

Once created, your shade-garden can’t remain constant over time, for light/shade conditions get transformed by changing landscapes. Be flexible; make necessary alterations in tandem with these.