Nothing is more frustrating that having a garden that is under the shade of oversized trees. Granted, those arbors can be awesome but if you want to plant and you are not hot on hostas and ferns, well, good luck. Or not. We thought there is probably another way so we asked Nancy Pedley of the landscape design firm Kelce & Pedley (314-961-7453, yourlandscapedesigners.com) for her take. Here is what she said:
“A shade garden can be a bit challenging but one must embrace the elegant beauty and oasis it can provide during the heat of the summer. Not all shade is the same. There can be bright, dappled shade, deep shade, and very dark shade. The more shallow the tree roots, the more difficult it becomes to successfully plant under the tree.
“Dappled shade lends itself to a more diverse selection of plants such as aquilegia, wild ginger, hosta, sweet woodruff, fern, lysimachia and pachysandra. Using the lime green hostas provide bright light. Impatiens, an annual, can provide a variety of color.
“Deep shade requires a more defined plant palette and it is more difficult to establish a lush garden. One could raise the canopy on the tree allowing more light, however, keep in mind that there will always be competition between the watering needs of the tree and the plants underneath. Composting and mulching will help retain moisture, but it is important not to apply more than 2 inches of mulch around the base of the tree. Over mulching will cause the roots of the tree to grow into the new layer and limit the oxygen it receives. Over time, this could kill the tree. Shallow rooted trees make digging a hole very difficult. In this case, it would be better to plant a container and place it under the tree. One also, might consider adding some sort of garden art or perhaps a lovely bench.”
