24/7 Shade Solutions for your garden
In all likelihood, there is a neglected patch of shade in your garden that you’ve never managed to get to grips with. Whether it’s beneath mature trees, in front of a boundary hedge or against a north-facing wall, the lawn is threadbare, and plants fail to thrive. But, given the right treatment, this shady enclave can become a verdant oasis of calm, providing respite from our ever-souring summer temperatures. The secret is to stop fighting it and start designing for it.
A Shady Garden Sanctuary
What can this new area of your garden offer you?
Somewhere cool to sit; a secluded retreat for peaceful relaxation?
Or perhaps a wildlife haven, full of lush, green foliage, a perfect habitat for wildlife to shelter. Or maybe a pared-down, more formal setting is more your style.
Spring is the ideal time to take on a new project, so start planning now! Often, the existing setting will dictate the type of scheme you ultimately choose, given its location and size. With some smart preparation and innovative planting, you can transform this barren landscape into something really special, often requiring minimal maintenance once established. Don’t know where to start? For inspiration, type in Woodland Garden or Shade Garden into your search engine, click on Images, and let your imagination run riot.
Preparing the Ground
Tree roots, hedges and walls all suck the moisture out of the surrounding soil. There are various degrees of shade, but one thing’s for sure: the majority of these situations create dry shade.
If you’ve never cultivated an area of dry shade before, there are a couple of things you should accept: A lawn will never thrive in dry shade, and nothing will grow directly against a tree trunk, a hedge or a wall. Leaving a gap of at least 30cm between a hedge or wall before you start planting ensures the new plants have enough space to establish, reducing competition for water and nutrients. First, mark out the shape of your border. A straight edge, parallel to a building or wall, looks smart, to a depth of no less than 1200cms and preferably the wider the better, to create maximum impact. Circular borders are generally more attractive around trees, often mirroring the diameter of the tree canopy above.
Next, clear the ground of any large stones, threadbare grass, existing ivy, brambles and other weeds, including and especially their roots. As the soil is probably compacted and cracked, you are unlikely to make much headway by digging, so I recommend loosening the top 10cm layer of soil with a fork instead. These areas tend to be root-packed and very dry, so it’s often easier to work the soil after it’s had a good soaking.
Once cleared, it’s time to improve the soil. Don’t stint on this vital step as it’s the lifeblood of the planting scheme. Spread a 15cm layer of topsoil over the whole area, then a 10cm layer of well-rotted manure, and finally add a 10cm layer of composted bark or leaf mould. This might seem extreme, but it will pay dividends in the long run. Mulching improves water retention, adds nutrients and keeps plant roots cool and moist. First and foremost, it will give your new plants the best start in life.
No more will you have to endure the disappointment of your treasured plants repeatedly dying on you, and the expense of replacing them. Don’t be tempted to buy the largest specimen at the nursery; it’s unlikely that you will be able to dig a deep enough hole to accommodate a large root ball. Instead, opt for 2 or 3 litre pots, which establish better. For perennials and ground cover plants, buy in threes and fives, spacing to about 9 plants per square metre. Once the planting is complete, water well and copiously, regularly in the first year to establish a strong root system.
Woodland Tapestry
Light that filters through the tree canopy creates dappled shade. Light levels reach their peak in spring before the canopy of deciduous trees fills in, shading out the sun. Consequently, plants that thrive in dappled shade tend to be spring-flowering. Areas under deciduous trees play host to the widest range of shade-loving plants, especially spring-flowering bulbs. Think forget-me-not blues and primrose yellows for a typically spring-flowering planting scheme.
When designing for dappled shade, take your inspiration from a natural woodland setting, where the planting is layered. Create a framework with a combination of large, evergreen shrubs such as camellias and deciduous oakleaf hydrangeas. Add midsized shrubs, such as fragrant abelia, mahonia and sarcococca. Next come perennials, ground cover plants and finally, bulbs. To achieve a tapestry effect, incorporate contrasting leaf shapes, colours and textures, using heucheras, brunnera and pulmonaria.
Longacre Plants has a comprehensive collection of shade-loving plants, which are grown in Somerset.
Shady Chic
For a more contemporary effect, keep it simple. Stick to greens, whites and variegations. If you’ve got room for a small tree, the ghostly white trunk of a multi-stemmed Himalayan birch will create immediate impact. On a smaller scale, choose a statement plant, such as Fatsia japonica Variegata or arching Solomon’s Seal, underplanted with ferns, astrantia, Corsican hellebores, pachysandra and woodruff. Incorporating white foliage will lighten up deep shade.
Visit Bowdens Nursery for the best selection of ferns.
Create a Stumpery
If your new border is traversed by large tree roots, don’t try to cut them out. In fact, if the roots are proud of the soil level, then make a feature of them by creating a Stumpery. The most famous example of this is at Highgrove, the Gloucestershire country house of King Charles.
A Stumpery, originating in the Victorian era, consists of tree stumps, logs and branches, placed as if they had fallen where they lay, creating planting pockets in between, for lush green ferns and broad-leaved plants. What’s more, you don’t need masses of space to develop your own stumpery. Not only will you create a real talking point in your garden, but you will also be providing shelter for insects, amphibians and small mammals.
Another fine example can be seen at RHS Rosemoor in Devon.
Don’t Hide Your Light
Just occasionally, there are some deeply shaded situations, typically beneath mature, evergreen conifers, between tall hedges, or against a north-facing wall, that are just too dry to sustain plant life. These challenging spaces require a certain degree of creativity to achieve the desired effect! Paving, gravel, or bark chippings are practical and attractive alternatives to a lawn. Painting a wall or fence a light colour will reflect light into the space. Installing up-lighting at the base of a tree or along a narrow pathway can add drama after dark. A small water feature can reflect the sunlight. A specimen plant in a beautiful container, a sculpture, or perhaps a bench, will provide a focal point, where little else will grow.
So, don’t turn your back on that neglected, shady corner of your plot. Turn it into an opportunity to expand your horticultural prowess. Not only will you be cultivating a thriving, living ecosystem, but you may also find that this secluded enclave becomes your go-to spot to relax and recalibrate, away from the bustle of everyday life.
