Showy Shade Garden Ideas Create a beautiful shade garden with these plant combinations that showcase foliage and shade-blooming flowers. Planting ideas for your shade garden
Shade gardens are often the perfect spots for seating areas or getaways. Under the shelter of a mature tree or a structure, the temperatures are usually a bit cooler and it’s easier to get the sense of privacy or seclusion that helps when you’re creating a calming retreat. And shade gardens often require less maintenance: Out of direct sun, the soil holds moisture longer and weeds don’t sprout so readily. Apply a couple inches of organic mulch each year and your work load will be even lighter. Now let’s take a look at some plants that can help you upgrade your shade borders or create an area where you can kick back and relax.
Showcase foliage in shadeIt’s true that there aren’t as many plants with showy flowers for shade gardens as there are for sunny spots. But that doesn’t mean a border has to be boring. Mix up the planting with a variety of leaf shapes and colors. Here, the broad green hosta leaves make a great contrast to the burgundy coral bells at the front of this border. With just a few pansies for a pop of color, you can have an amazing all-season show. Repeating the coral bells along the edge with more pansies provides a cohesive look.
Back-of-the-border ligularia has dramatic yellow spikes that last for several weeks. But even when they fade, the attractive heart-shaped, heavily toothed leaves provide plenty of interest. Give this perennial regular deep watering to prevent crispy leaf edges. Deadheading the tall spent bloom scapes of the ligularia, hosta and coral bells below the mound of foliage will keep the border looking tidy.
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