Julia’s Garden Blog

Shade gardening can be frustrating unless you know a few tricks of the landscaping trade.

With the following tips, you’ll be surprised at how many flowering annuals, perennials, bulbs, and bushes exist that you may plant that will add color to your shady area.

Once you know which plant are are best for your area and which ones are most likely to do well, you’re halfway there. Check out your local extension service website for information on shade plants that grow well in your area.

Tips:

• One of the best tips I can give you if you’re really wanting color in your shade garden is to realize that many full sun annuals and perennials enjoy a little afternoon shade, particularly for those of us who live in zones 6,7, and 8.
• Prune trees and shrubs to let more light in.
• Consider eliminating some trees that crowd structures or fences.
• Add arbors, pergolas, a summer house, a lath house, or even create a shaded patio.
• Plant variegated trees and shrubs to brighten up the area

Check our latest video on shade gardening to find out some more secrets.

Shade Gardening Video

One of our favorite shade perennials is the hellebore, also known as the Lenten Rose.  We have hundreds of these in our yard.  You can’t find a better deer-resistant,  drought tolerant,  pest free plant anywhere.  That’s why we call it the “plant-it-and-forget-it” plant.  Learn where to buy hellebores in the Tennessee area here

Shade Garden at Niagara Falls Botanical Garden