Growing grass in shady spots of your lawn is about as easy as convincing a toddler to eat vegetables. The chances are slim to none. But, you can create something more beautiful and low-maintenance than standard turfgrass \u2014 a shade garden.<\/p>
If you\u2019re tired of begging your grass to grow, you\u2019ve come to the right place. We\u2019ll walk you through how to build a lush, soothing shade garden.<\/p>
A shade garden is typically grown underneath a tree canopy or in the shadows of a building. Shade gardens are filled with shade-tolerant plants, stones, and decorative features. With a shade garden, you can work with your shade rather than trying to fight it.<\/p>
Shade gardens come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A shade garden may be as simple as a few flowering plants and ground covers near the base of a tree, or it could be more elaborate and include footpaths, shrubs, and sculptures winding through an entire wooded backyard. <\/p>
If grass in a shady part of your lawn isn\u2019t growing the way you want it to, it may be time to embrace a shade-friendly garden design. Shade gardens are normally planted on the edges of your lawn, underneath a tree canopy, or in the shadows of a building. <\/p>
Measure the area of your garden to get an idea of how many plants, rocks, and decorative elements you\u2019ll want.<\/p>
Before you go on a plant shopping spree, take some time to observe the area to see how much shade it is getting during the day. Your garden\u2019s shade level will determine which plants will thrive and which ones you should avoid.<\/p>
Also known as dense shade, deep shade lets in the least amount of sunlight. Densely shaded areas get little to no direct sunlight. They\u2019re often found underneath low-branched evergreens like pines or hemlocks. <\/p>
If you\u2019re dealing with a deeply shaded area, you\u2019re pretty restricted when it comes to plants. Opt for a bench or footpath, plant some highly shade-resistant ground cover, and add lawn accents like edging, a gazing ball, a fountain, or even some original artwork from a local artist.<\/p>
Deep and full shade sound similar, but fully shaded areas get a bit more light. An area with full shade gets less than three hours of sunlight per day. <\/p>
Consider decorating your shady area with pots of cheerful, shade-loving houseplants. Containers of houseplants can brighten up the space beneath trees, and plant roots won\u2019t have to compete with thirsty tree and shrub roots.<\/p>
Partial shade, partial sun, and light shade all mean the same thing (though some gardeners consider partial shade plants less tolerant<\/a> of direct sun than partial sun plants). A partially shaded area gets three to six hours of direct sunlight daily, generally in the morning or early afternoon. During those three to six hours, partially shaded areas can experience intense, bright sunlight.<\/p> Partial shade may not be ideal for some plants, but there are a host of wildflowers, herbs, shrubs, and ground covers that prefer partial shade to full sun. <\/p> Dappled shade means that sun rays filter through a tree canopy to reach plants below, so light is less intense. In areas with dappled shade, there is a constant motion of sun and shade throughout the day. Most plants that can grow in partial shade can also grow in dappled shade. Shade-tolerant potted houseplants will thrive in dappled light. <\/p> When choosing plants for your shade garden, you\u2019ll also want to consider:<\/p> To prevent crowding, check the spread of plants at maturity to estimate how many will fit in your garden. You don\u2019t want your plants to start pushing up against each other after a year in the ground. <\/p> Make sure you choose plants that can withstand your yard\u2019s seasonal temperatures. Picking out native plants is a great way to ensure your garden doesn\u2019t wither in summer heat or wilt at the first hint of autumn.<\/p> A microclimate? Is that like a microbrewery? Well, not quite. A microclimate is a specific area with climate conditions that differ from the climate of the general region (including other parts of your yard). Because your area is shaded, it will probably be cooler and less windy than the rest of your lawn. <\/p> To prevent grass and weeds<\/a> from popping up in your garden, you\u2019ll want to remove any existing grass.<\/p> Using a shovel, dig 4-6 inches deep and turn over your soil. Then use a manual tiller or cultivator to break up the larger chunks of soil. Tilling loosens and aerates your soil so plants can access nutrients and spread their roots. <\/p> As you till your soil, make sure you\u2019re removing rocks and twigs. It\u2019ll make planting a whole lot easier. As a finishing touch, rake your soil and pluck out any remaining roots and stones. <\/p> Once your soil is tilled, it\u2019s time to spread a healthy 3-inch layer of compost<\/a> over your garden area. Rake your compost into the soil, spreading evenly. This nutrient-rich soil will serve as the garden bed, giving your new plants a healthy start in their new home.<\/p> For an extra nutrient boost, you can spread a layer of fertilizer<\/a> over your garden bed before adding compost.<\/p> It\u2019s time for the stars of your garden to make an appearance! This is the fun part. Group your plants based on their shade tolerance and then experiment with different designs. Play with color, texture, and height contrasts.<\/p> If certain plants look gorgeous next to one another, pair them up! Just be mindful of their width at maturity. Once you\u2019ve placed your plants, grab your trowel and start digging. <\/p> Your garden soil will settle, so dig plants into the soil at a slightly lower depth than they were in their containers. Gently step on the soil around each plant to establish contact between the root ball and the garden soil.<\/p> Pro Tip: <\/strong>If roots have become messy and congested in the plastic container, use a garden fork to gently tease out the roots. This will help establish the plant in its new environment.<\/p> Directly after planting, water<\/a> your shade garden thoroughly. This will settle the soil and give your plants a healthy start. You\u2019ll want to water daily or every other day for the first week and then transition to two to three times per week. <\/p> Once your garden is thriving, water it based on moisture levels: Some shade gardens stay cool and damp, while others dry out quickly.<\/p> It\u2019s time to get inspired! With your plants all in place, add your different decorations. From patios and paintings to fountains and fire pits, you can let your imagination loose. Read on for shade garden design ideas<\/a>.<\/p> Homeowners rave about these shade garden plants, and you can find them at your local gardening center or nursery. Just make sure to pick out shade-loving plants that will thrive in your particular region<\/a> and soil type.<\/p> Perennials:<\/strong><\/p> Ground covers:<\/strong> <\/p> Shrubs and trees:<\/strong><\/p> When you choose native plants, you\u2019ll get the bonus of pollinators. Beautiful butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds will enjoy your shade garden, too. Astilbe, scarlet lobelia, and coral bells are especially hummingbird-friendly. <\/p> Looking for some extra color? Annuals like begonias, impatiens, and wishbone flowers can make your shade garden pop.<\/p> Pro Tip: <\/strong>Some ground covers can be invasive to certain regions of the U.S. Before planting, check your state\u2019s invasive species list<\/a> or contact your local cooperative extension<\/a> office. <\/p> Stumped on what to put in your shade garden? We\u2019ve got design ideas and garden ideas to get you inspired and ready to decorate.<\/p> Slugs<\/a>, snails, and deer can be problematic in shade gardens. Shade gardens retain moisture due to cooler temperatures and less sunlight, which is wonderful for moisture-loving plants. However, it also means you may need to apply sand around your plants (especially hostas) to stop slugs from munching their way through your hard work.\u00a0 In shade gardens beneath trees, tree roots compete with plant roots for nutrients, so it\u2019s a good idea to apply a slow-release fertilizer. Fertilize in spring and then once or twice more during the growing season.\u00a0 You can have a blast mixing and matching different varieties of plants, playing with color, texture, and height. Bulbs, annuals, ornamental grasses, flowering perennials, and even small shrubs can look fantastic in decorated pots near your trees.\u00a0 Growing grass is tougher in shady spots, but if you love that green lawn look and your yard gets at least a few hours of direct sunlight, you can do it! You\u2019ll just have to plant the right grass type<\/a> and give your shady spot some extra TLC. Check out Lawn Love\u2019s \u201c\u200b\u200bTips for Growing Grass in Shady Areas.\u201d<\/a> <\/p> <\/div> Small and medium-sized shade gardens tend to take one or two days to install, and a larger shade garden may take longer. A pair of extra hands<\/a> always helps.\u00a0 <\/p> <\/div> <\/div> If your grass is having a hissy fit in the shade, a shade garden can put a stop to the whining. Shade gardens are gorgeous, require little maintenance and no mowing, and will be a welcome change from yellow grass that refuses to grow. <\/p> Building a shade garden can be a straightforward, fun DIY project. Grab your friends and make a day of it. If you\u2019re ready to take a break and put your feet up, call in a local landscaping pro<\/a> to get your lawn under control. <\/p> Main Photo Credit: Tanya Impeartrice | Flickr<\/a> | CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Growing grass in shady spots of your lawn is about as easy as convincing a toddler to eat vegetables. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":6381,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[297,126],"tags":[132,222],"class_list":["post-6378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening","category-lawn-care-tips","tag-gardening","tag-landscaping"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/rsz_5837256774_cc5ae1e203_h.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Maille Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/maille-rose-smith\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}3. Consider your garden\u2019s planting needs<\/span><\/h3>
4. Remove grass (if you\u2019ve got it)<\/span><\/h3>
5. Gently till and rake the soil<\/span><\/h3>
6. Add compost<\/span><\/h3>
7. Add plants<\/span><\/h3>
8. Water<\/span><\/h3>
9. Add edging and decorate<\/span><\/h3>
Best plants for a shade garden<\/span><\/h2>
9 decorative additions to make your shade garden shine<\/span><\/h2>
FAQ about shade gardens<\/span><\/h2>
Making your shady area shine<\/span><\/h2>