Shade Garden Design | How to do it right!

Is your shade garden kind of bland? It doesn’t have to be! Shade Gardens can be so gorgeous with the right design. Use these tips to build yourself the best shade garden you can in your space.

How to Design a Shade Garden:

• Create layers of interest. Use a variety of plants with different heights, textures, and colors to create a visually interesting garden. For example, you could plant tall ferns and hostas in the background, with shorter plants like astilbe and heuchera in the foreground.
• Use foliage plants. Many shade-tolerant plants have beautiful foliage that can add interest to your garden even when they’re not in bloom. For example, hostas, ferns, begonias, Darmara and coleus all have colorful and interesting leaves.
• Add some flowers. While foliage plants can provide plenty of visual interest, adding some flowers to your shade garden can really brighten things up. Some good choices for shade flowers include Astilbe, Columbine, Begonia and Trillium!
• Use groundcovers. Groundcovers are a great way to fill in empty spaces in your shade garden and prevent weeds from taking over. Some good choices for shade groundcovers include pachysandra, vinca, creeping jenny and liriope.
• Add some hardscaping. Hardscaping elements like brick pathways, patios, and water features like ponds or fountains can add structure and interest to your shade garden. They can also help to define different areas of your garden and make it more functional.

Read Top Perennials for your shade garden here!

Here are some additional tips for designing a shade garden:

• Don’t be afraid to choose plants that are native to your area. These plants will be more likely to thrive in your specific climate and soil conditions and they are just as beautiful as non natives.
• Plant in a location that gets at least some morning sun. This will help to keep the plants from getting too leggy.
• Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter to improve drainage and fertility.
• Water regularly, especially during the first year after planting. Consider setting up drip irrigation to take the watering to the next level.
• Mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

With a little planning, you can create a beautiful and low-maintenance shade garden that will bring you joy for years to come.

Happy Gardening!