Flowers and plants that love shade in the garden

Flowers

Every garden has shady spots that, unfortunately, are considered unsuitable for growing plants and flowers. But this is not true at all. There are plenty of shade-tolerant greenery that can help beautify your garden. Beautiful flowers and plants that thrive in shade can become the highlight of your garden!

But before you start landscaping, it's worth carefully analyzing two main aspects before planting:

illumination of the site at different times of the year;
soil condition and type.

The amount of light depends on the season. While the tree's canopy receives little sunlight in summer, in autumn and winter, for example, when the leaves are gone, the light can be considered quite adequate. Also, during the summer, it's important to pay attention to when sunlight reaches shady areas. Based on this factor, you can select shade-tolerant plants and flowers. If the area receives 3-5 hours of sun per day, shade-tolerant greenery can be planted there.

As for the soil, everything is perfectly clear. If the soil is acidic, then it's appropriate to buy plants that thrive in an acidic environment.

It is also worth considering that in shady areas, moisture will be retained in the soil, so it is better to give preference to moisture-loving plants.

What flowers survive in the shade?

Flowers that thrive in the shade of a garden are generally easy to grow and don't require much care. However, they will require occasional attention.

The following flowers feel good in the shade:

hostas of different varieties;
Solomon's seal;
begonia;
periwinkle;
daffodils;
tulips;
muscari.

If the area is illuminated by the sun for at least 3 hours a day, then in such places you can plant:

astilbe;
columbine;
balsam;
dicentra;
irises;
violet.

Shade-loving plants often have normal vegetative growth and develop even faster in shady areas than sun-loving plants. Therefore, this factor must also be taken into account to ensure that the mature plant doesn't become overwhelmed by tree foliage.

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Proper care for shade-tolerant flowers

Shade-loving flowers in the garden require proper care. This is not surprising, as poor conditions can prevent plants from developing at all.

First of all, pay attention to fertilizers. Be very careful with them. Since the flowers will be growing in the shade, be careful with nitrogen fertilizers, as too much nitrogen can cause the plants to stretch. Foliar feeding is best to avoid damaging the root system.

As for watering, each flower requires a different approach. For example, hostas and forget-me-nots are quite moisture-loving, so in hot weather, they should be watered generously, without waiting for the leaves to wilt.

When planting shade-loving plants, it's also important to consider that they prefer looser soil. Light soil helps their root system absorb moisture and develop vegetative mass, as these plants primarily have surface roots.

What plants grow in the shade?

In addition to flowers, other shade-loving plants are planted in shady areas. Gardeners often plant large shrubs either along fences or under trees.

But most shrubs prefer partial shade. They should be planted where there's some filtered light. Rhododendrons thrive in these conditions. They grow and thrive in shaded areas, but can die in the shade.

Hydrangeas are also planted in partial shade. You can also purchase viburnum and elderberry bushes, which will thrive in shady areas.

Another option for landscaping the shady area of the garden is clematis, which loves diffused rays and grows well in partial shade.

If you don't want to clutter your garden with massive plants, you can simply sow the entire area with lawn grass. Simply purchase a shade-tolerant grass variety and sow it in early spring. However, keep in mind that in shady areas, it will grow slowly and will be a different height than the rest of the garden.

In addition to shade-loving ornamental plants, vegetable crops are also planted in the garden. With proper gardening techniques, beets and beans can be grown in the shade, as well as onions, parsley, garlic, lettuce, and cauliflower. These plants can produce a good harvest even with minimal sun exposure.

But it's important to remember that vegetable crops require special care. This is especially true for the soil. Not only should you remove weeds, but you should also periodically loosen the top layer of soil. This procedure helps provide the roots with adequate oxygen, which affects the quality of the harvest. Otherwise, the vegetables may grow stunted and small, or fail to produce any growth at all.

As you can see, shade in the garden isn't as scary as people make it out to be. With proper zoning, you can not only distribute all the garden areas but also use them for growing both flowers and vegetables. The key is to plan carefully and decide what kind of greenery will predominate in your garden. After all, for some, flowers are very important, while others, due to the small size of their plot, have to conserve garden beds and use even shaded areas for vegetable gardening. It's all individual.

Key features of shade-loving flowers

Growing a shade-loving plant isn't difficult—some propagate them from seeds, which are quite affordable, while others use cuttings. Whatever your choice, it's important to know their basic characteristics so you can create a unique arrangement for low-light areas.

But be that as it may, before planting, it is necessary to consider all factors – the amount of light, the type of soil, etc. And only then should crops be planted in shaded areas.

If you want to make your garden your own little paradise, you can consult a specialist who can help you arrange plants and flowers throughout the area, even in areas of permanent shade. So the choice is always yours!