Ideas for Landscaping in the Shade

If you have lots of trees on your property, then you may be wondering how to best design the landscape. There are plenty of ideas for landscaping in the shade that can make your shady space as beautiful and efficient as possible. While there are certainly some drawbacks, there are also many benefits to shady areas. These areas are often more private because of the trees. Also, they are more comfortable in the summer. After all, would you rather sit in the sweltering heat or the gentle shade? A shady area doesn't have to be sparse, either. There are plenty of gorgeous plants and flowers that love the shade.

One of the biggest challenges facing gardeners is that trees often sap nutrients from the flowers and plants. Therefore, it is important to use nutrient rich soil and make sure your plants and flowers are getting the supplementation they require. You may find that the soil itself is dry and hard to plant. If so, a layer of organic compost can make a vast improvement. Then you'll want to add your potting soil. Many gardeners also like a layer of mulch over top the soil after they've planted their flowers.

When choosing plants and flowers, there is more to consider than just whether or not they like the shade. You will want to look at the sizes and colors of various plants and think about how they will look next to one another. Because a shady garden is automatically going to be darker than a garden situated in the sun, go for a mix of green foliage and light and/or bright colors. White flowers can make a big improvement in a dark, shady area. You will find a variety of beautiful choices for your shade garden. Examples of popular plants include Hosta, Iris and Hydrangea.

If you need more ideas for landscaping in the shade, there's nothing better than a full-color book filled with information and examples. Check out the following titles: Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens up the Shadows by Larry Hodgson, The Natural Shade Garden by Ken Druse and Gardening in the Shade by Horticulture Magazine. These represent only a few titles on library and bookstore shelves today dedicated to gardening and landscaping in shady areas.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved



Landscaping Ideas:
Law promotes Florida-friendly landscaping - News Chief

Law promotes Florida-friendly landscaping
News Chief
Charlie Crist promotes the installation of Florida-friendly landscaping. The law states that homeowners associations (HOAs) may not prohibit a homeowner .

and more »
..


Landscaping Ideas for your Bungalow | PetuniaGarden.com
In keeping with small yards, the first bungalow landscaping often included plants that were useful as well as attractive such as dwarf fruit trees. They used...


More Green Products and Services Available for Office Landscaping - Environmental Leader

Environmental Leader
More Green Products and Services Available for Office Landscaping
Environmental Leader
Businesses wanting to adopt EURgreenerEUR landscaping in their office complexes increasingly will find more products and companies offering such solutions. .

and more »
..


I-15's Landscape Skinny - San Diego Reader

I-15's Landscape Skinny
San Diego Reader
By Peijean Tsai | Published Thursday, July 2, 2009 Drivers on Interstate 15 may have noticed new trees popping up, as Caltrans is now landscaping the .

and more »
..

Landscaping Ideas, Designs & Pictures regularly Blog Archive .
I am traveling to Europe next Feb and insufficiency a well-proportioned je sais quoi digital SLR to photograph landscapes, architecture, people etc. What should...


Let the 'land of flowers' do your landscaping - Tampa Tribune

Tampa Tribune
Let the 'land of flowers' do your landscaping
Tampa Tribune
Florida native landscaping gained a whole new luster during the spring drought. As lawns and shrubs shriveled under Draconian water .

and more »
..


Landscaping Ideas For Your Yard | Home and Gardening
Landscaping Ideas for Your YardOne of the benefits of having a yard is the fun you can have landscaping it. Imagine your yard with a garden pond enhanced by a...


Save Money With Shrubs; Go Green Landscaping - News Channel 7

Save Money With Shrubs; Go Green Landscaping
News Channel 7
Just by adding energy efficient landscaping to your home, you can cut your power bills in half. In fact, these A/C units, by putting some shade over them, .

and more »
..


Technorati Tags: , ,