HOW TO COPE WITH SHADY AREAS IN THE GARDEN

You may love that tree in your garden, but hate the shade that it casts over the ground nearby. Although many people regard shade as a problem for the gardener, it doesn’t have to be. There are plants that grow happily in the shade and others that can flower at times of the year when there are no leaves on the trees to block the sun. This article by Judith Bryant which I found on the Master Gardeners website explains the different degrees of shade and lists plants suitable for these conditions.

Gardening in the shade can be a very rewarding experience. You can create a tranquil cool retreat for those hot days of summer, and it?s far more pleasant to work in the shade than in the hot blistering sun. Also it?s much kinder to your skin.
Before selecting plants, you will need to identify how much shade you have ? light, partial or full. Areas receiving morning sun or about 3 to 4 hours of shade are considered in light shade. Partial shade is approximately 4 to 6 hours of shade. Full shade is under mature trees or the north side of a building receiving no direct sunlight, but some indirect light. Observe your garden at different times during the day to determine the amount of shade it gets. Be aware that the amount of shade varies with the seasons.
Once you have established the type of shade you have, you can begin selecting plantings for these areas. Also, if you are planting under trees, you will need to consider the root interference you will encounter. It is also a good idea to do a soil test to determine the soil?s pH. Kits with instructions can be obtained at the Adams County Extension Office on old Harrisburg Road in Gettysburg. You will then be able to amend your soil to the requirements of the plants you have chosen.

Spring flowering bulbs can be planted in a shade garden, as they will bloom before the trees leaf out. There are many perennials and some annuals that will give you a wide range of color for your shade garden. Hostas with their handsome leaf colorations from green and cream variegated to lime green to almost blue provide leaf color. Their lavender or white lily-like flowers appear in summer. Hostas come in a wide range of sizes, some reaching 32″ in height.