It is crucially important to choose the right sort of plants for the shady areas in your garden: under an over-hanging roof, under trees, in the shade of your house or garden cabin.
Fortunately, there are plenty of plants for shade gardening, so you will be able to create a nice flower arrangement even in places with poor lighting conditions.
Astilbe, Coral Bells, Lily of the Valley, Oriental Poppy, Foxtail Lily, Butterfly Plant, Astrantia – all these beautiful plants are meant to bring the touch of color and elegance to the shady parts of your garden.
Several things to consider..
However, it is not enough to know that a plant is shade loving. While choosing the plants, it is highly recommended to consider the following factors:
Weather conditions
Will you be able to protect your plant, especially in winter season? Some plants are quite hardy, while the others are more delicate, with no resistance to winter frosts, so it might be necessary to keep them indoors at least for a few weeks.
Another crucial aspect is your climate zone. Depending on a climate zone, the same plant might require different methods of maintenance.
Natural environment.
Most of the plants can be found in wild, and it is essential to replicate their needs if you choose to plant them in your garden. You should make sure that Ph of the soil and its type is just right, as well as light and moisture conditions.
Invasive nature of plants.
Some plants have a tendency to spread very aggressively, and it is better to decide in advance whether you can use this tendency as an advantage or it will only create problems.
Susceptibility to diseases.
Naturally, it is better to choose the plants with a high level of disease resistance. Also, try to find out whether they are susceptible to insect damage. If the answer if yes, it is advisable to get a nice insecticide beforehand, so you will be able to take immediate actions when needed.
>Companion plants
Some plants are rather sensitive to other species which grow near by. It is not a secret that plants can benefit each other or, on the contrary, prevent each other from thriving.
That is why it is important to know their preferences, especially if you are planning to create a composite flower bed with lots of different plants.
It is always best to choose the plants native to your area. In this case they require low maintenance and have more chances to flourish even if you are not an experienced gardener yet.
Selecting plants for shade gardening, you should not concentrate only on flowering plants: there are lots of ornamental ground covers which beautiful leaves.
And of course you should choose the plants according to your aesthetic preferences: it is so rewarding to see beautiful splashes of color in your garden and to share this joy with your dearest ones.
