How to make the most of shade in your garden

7 Apr

Shade can often be something that garden owners dread.

Lots of the ‘go to’ plants you love are unlikely to survive
You aren’t sure what to do with the space
It can become the neglected area in your garden you just avoid.

But this doesn’t have to be the case!

Where there is shade, there are opportunities

A common garden myth is that shade is bad, and I am here to tell you why this is not the case.

One great example is when we cast our minds back to July last year, we had the hottest heatwave on record. Most of us were running to the cover of shade for some respite from the sun.

So I would say that having a shaded spot in your garden is an asset, and here is why:

Provides valuable cover from the heat
Gives you opportunities to create different zones in the garden
You can mix up your planting and try something different
Provides a space for wildlife to shelter during the hot weather

How much shade do you have?

Over the course of the day as the sun rises and sets your garden will experience different conditions over the day.

I thought it might be helpful to clarify different types of shade, before we launch into transforming your shady spots.

So, rule one of any garden transformation is preparation. This includes understanding your garden’s aspect and conditions!

Partial shade: Is considered to be 3-6 hours of direct sunlight a day

Moderate shade: Is considered to be 2-3 hours of direct sunlight a day, anything less than this is considered deep shade.

If you aren’t sure take some time to sit in the garden and watch. Maybe use it as an excuse to take some time out with a cup of tea.

Are you ready to inject some life into those shaded areas?

So once you have worked out how much shade you have and how this might change over the course of the day we can move to changing our mindset.

Now we need to embrace the shade…and that’s exactly what we will look at next.

Unless you can afford/want to chop down trees, move home, or ask your neighbours to move their shed/extension there is little point in trying to fight the shade.

Gorgeous planting is just one way we can turn your shaded spot into an area you love.

But also consider if you can make a feature of the shade, perhaps installing a water feature or wildlife pond? Or some seating so you can have a space away from the sun during those hotter months.

Right plant, right place

You may have heard this before, and for a very good reason….it is the secret weapon when choosing plants for your garden.

Knowing how much shade you have, the conditions of your shaded spot and the type of soil in this area will all help you to plan what the right plant is for this space.

Luckily, we have millions of plants to choose from when it comes to our gardens, and the great news is there are beautiful plants that will thrive in shady conditions.

To save hours of internet research I have put a few of my favourites below for you to use as a starting point.

Galanthus nivalis most commonly known as Snowdrops. These delicate whole flowers start to appear in January and are usually one of the first bulbs of the year. They are excellent for naturalising.
Helleborus × ericsmithii 'Pirouette' (PBR) Hellebores are a ‘must have’ in my opinion. They have a long flowering period from January and come in a large variety s of colours and shapes to suit all tastes. The foliage is semi-evergreen providing ground cover throughout most of the year.
Brunnera ‘Mr Morse’ (PBR) is another plant that has two areas of interest to bring interest to a shaded area. The dainty white flowers will appear through spring, but the silvery-green foliage is beautiful and will provide long lasting interest right up until late autumn when it will die back beneath the ground.
Tiarella 'Sugar and Spice' (PBR) The foliage is a bit of a show stopper on this Tiarella, the jagged green leaves have an unusual red-cromson colour through the middle providing a striking contrast. The flowers appear around May and are a beautiful soft pink spike.
Alchemilla mollis This is a fantastic foliage plant for a shaded area. The frothy lime green flowers are gorgeous but the foliage is long lasting and look wonderful when it has rained and the water pools on the leaves.
Geranium nodosum Producing pale lilac flowers this geranium from Spring right through to Summer. This low growing perennial will also provide an excellent ground cover
Athyrium filix-femina subsp. angustum f. rubellum 'Lady in Red' this fern is striking due to it’s red stems. The fronds unfurling will make a great companion to early flowering snowdrops and as they establish they will provide a lush green backdrop.
Polystichum tsussimense This is an evergreen fern which will give you all year round interest. As new growth appears you can cut back old leaves to allow space for the fresh new growth to appear.
Trachelospermum jasminoides is a wonderfully scented evergreen climber. Perfect for those partially shaded spots where you want to cover a wall or a fence. The small white flowers are produced throughout summer and it’s worth placing in a spot near a bench or walk way so you can make the most of the scent.