Tips for gardening in the shade

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru

Many gardeners are under the misconception that they can not have a successful garden in shady areas. This is simply not true, as there are plants for almost every level of light. A walk through a bush will uncover many species of wild plants that grow in the share of the forest floor. While many of these plants are provincially protected and illegal to pick these species have been hybridized and are available at our nurseries for us to enjoy.
The first step to a successful garden whether in shade or not is good soil. You will want to make sure that the soil in your garden is in good condition. Often gardens in low light hold moisture longer than if they are in more direct sun. Check the general moisture of the garden if is seems moist and fresh then it should support plants well. If it is waterlogged you will have to rehabilitate the soil to suit the growing conditions. You many have to start from scratch and bring in new soil. If you have heavy clay soils, make sure you add a generous amount of fresh compost. Whatever the situation make sure you are starting with a good and healthy soil base.
You can cover those bare spots under those trees with a shade loving ground cover perennial, small shrubs or a species of grass that will grow in the shade. If you want grass to grow make sure you buy seed specifically for shady areas. There are species of grass specific to shade and will grow successfully, but they are not in a general lawn mixture so read the labels carefully. A shade garden can contain trees, shrubs and both perennials and annuals. You can have a garden of greenery or a garden filled with flowers in the shade. You just must select your plants accordingly.
Listed below are some plants that are sure to suit your shade garden needs and will all grow in our zone.
Perennials: anemone, hosta ( 100’s of varieties), lady’s mantle, astilbe, columbine, Jack- in-the-pulpit, bleeding heart, lily of the valley, bellflower, perennial geranium (cranesbill), barrenwort, sweet woodruff, day lilies, Solomon’s seal, violas, primulas, ferns (many varieties available), bloodroot, foam flower, meadow rue.
Annuals: begonias, impatiens, monkey flower, coleus, foxglove, nicotiana, pansies, lobelia.
Spring Bulbs: crocus, daffodils, muscari, snowdrops, trillium, Siberian squill.
Shrubs: dogwood, serviceberry, Annabelle hydrangea, yew, snowberry, currant, viburnum (many varieties), white cedar.
Ground Covers: lamium, juniper, bear berry, lambs ear, ajuga (bugleweed)