Gardening Success in the shade

By Melanie Mathieson
Gardening Guru
Many gardeners are under the misconception that they can not have a successful garden in their most shady spots, but you can have a very beautiful garden even in the shade, you just need to choose the correct plants.
A walk through the forest will uncover many species of wild plants that grow in the shade of the forest floor. While many of these plants are provincially protected and illegal to pick, fortunately many of 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 so 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.
Now you must decide what type pf plants you want. Do you want to cover those bare spots under those trees in your yard? You can do this with a shade loving ground cover perennial or small shrubs and yes there are even 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. Look for some of these plants at our nurseries and try your hand at a shade garden. You will be amazed at how well a shade garden will grow with the right plants. So dress up the north side of your house, under those large trees in your yard, the back side of your shed, wherever you have a dark shady spot that need some life. Once you get going you may not be able to stop.
Perennials: anemone, hosta ( 100’s of varieties), lady’s mantle, astilbe, columbine, Jack- in-the-pulpit, ferns, lily of the valley, bleeding heart, trillium, wild ginger, liverwort (Hepatica), bed straw (Galium), bugloss (Brunnera), lungwort (Pulmonaria), fleeceflower (knotweed), Solomon’s seal, primrose (primula), Lamium, Hydrangeas, goat’s beard, coral bells, perennial geranium (cranesbill).
Annuals: begonia, coleous, impatiens, torenia, fushia, sweet potato vine, lobelia, viola.