Manor Nurseries

My garden is dark and dreary ...

Dark corner of the garden, where nothing grows? If you're hoping for a blaze of floral colour then you'll probably be disappointed. The brightly coloured flowers generally prefer some sun. But you can brighten up the corner with foliage ... and scent!

Hints and Tips for Shady Corners

There are two main types of shade ... dry shade, such as underneath trees ... and deep shade, such as the back of the house on a north-facing wall or fence. There, the ground often lies a bit wet and cold.

Areas of dry shade are often caused by the roots of trees sucking the moisture from the soil, or possibly an overhanging eave can leave a dry patch alongside a wall.

If tree roots are the issue, digging a hole big enough to plant anything into can be depressing if not impossible. If at all possible, dig out some planting holes and fill them with lots of organic matter such as leaf mould or compost, and spread a layer of this over all the tree roots.

Wet shade will always be wet shade. You can open the soil by the addition of loose organic matter or grit, which will help the aereation, but the dampness will always be there. Best to choose plants that will love those conditions!

Shade-loving Plants

Think texture ... foliage ... berries ... scent!

Shrubs for deep shade -

Aucuba, Buxus sempervirens cultivars, Cornus canadensis, Fatsia, Fuchsia, Hedera, Hydrangea, Hypericum calycinum, Ligustrum (Privet), Mahonia, Pachysandra, Rhododendron, Ruscus, Sarcococca, Symphoricarpos, Taxus

Shrubs for dry shade under trees -

Aucuba, Euphorbia robbiae, Hedera, Ilex aquifolium cultivars, Lonicera nitida, Mahonia, Prunus 'Otto Luyken', Ribes, Ruscus, Symphoricarpos, Taxus (Yew), Vinca

Climbers and wall plants for shade -

Camellia, Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince), Hedera, Hydrangea petiolaris, Itea ilicifolia

Perennials and flowers for shade -

Bergenia, Bluebells, Brunnera, Convallaria, Cyclamen, Epimedium (good for dry shade), Ferns (most of them), Hellebore, Hosta (not dry shade), Lamium, Liriope

For bedding plants that will give a bit of colour during the summer, go for Begonia Non-stops, New Guinea Imps, and Bizzy Lizzies ... also Fuchsias.

Pics and Links -

Click on Plants for Shade