If you want to start a home garden but don’t have an area that gets full sunlight every day? We know exactly what you need; a shade garden. That’s right, gardening in the shade can be fun too. If you are not familiar with the term shade garden or just heard it, stay with us till the end because here in this article we will tell you all you need to know about shade gardening and low-light plants. Shady areas also have some benefits. For instance, they are cooler and retain moisture longer. Shady areas are perfect for plants that don’t like direct sunlight.
How To Create A Shade Garden?
If you want to create a shade in your garden then that is a great idea. Create different levels of sunlight from full sun to deep shade. Diversity in lighting can make your yard look enchanting and appealing. To create shade in your garden you can use different containers and structures. For this, you will need a variety of plants from sun-loving species to shade-loving ones.
On the other hand, you can also use taller plants and trees to create shade for underlying plants. Trees will only block sunlight from reaching the ground but also provide windbreaks.
Things To Consider Starting:
To create a shade garden it is important to make a plan first. Planning includes several aspects like analysis of site conditions. Shade gardening can be challenging but with the right approach, it is possible to embrace long-lived healthy plants in your shade garden. Once you have basic knowledge of the landscape, you will be able to choose plants that will thrive in your garden. Growing conditions play an important role in the process. For instance, the size of the area or space available for planting and temperature and light levels within the premises. Another important aspect to understand well is the soil conditions of your gardening space.
Plants thrive in optimal conditions and in soils that contain all that is required by them. Otherwise, even if the plant survives it will be under stress and will show retarded growth. Plants not having optimal conditions are more susceptible to diseases and pathogen attacks. Hence, have lower chances of survival.
Stretch your creativity to personalize your shade garden:
Use your creativity and imagination to create beautiful designs and patterns that no one else can. Put your plants in gorgeous containers and tuck them under short-heightened trees or shrubs. Bring art to your garden by use of unique containers and pots. Bring life to your garden by adding different shade-loving plants.
Annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, creepers, edibles, ornamentals, and wild plants can be mixed and matched to turn your yard into a shade garden. Recycle empty bottles and use them as planting containers. You can also recycle cans, ceramic crocks, and pails. For proper irrigation and water drainage, drill holes at the bottom of these items.
Growing Plants in Low-Light Conditions
Don’t let low light conditions stop you from gardening your favorite plants indoors. Choose plants that can survive less-than-ideal light conditions. Here are common plants that thrive in the shade.
1. Spider plant:
Spider plant is one of the most famous plants among garden gurus. This is a low-maintenance easy-to-grow plant that thrives well in shade environments. Hang them in small baskets with the tree branches or tuck them under the shrubs.
2. Staghorn ferns:
This epiphytic plant grows on other plants such as trees instead of soil. Keep staghorn ferns in the shade to avoid damaging them with direct sunlight.
3. Peace Lilies:
Peace lilies are low-light indoor plants that require little care. They have large dark green leaves with one or two white flowers that give them an elegant look. Be careful, because peace lilies wilt with a slight shortage of water. Give this plant ample water and keep it away from the reach of pets and children as this plant is slightly toxic.
4. Polka dot plant:
The Polka dot plant is a low-maintenance plant that is popular for its eye-catching foliage. They will thrive if given some shade as longer sunlight can harm their foliage and fade its color.
5. Gloxinia:
Gloxinia thrives in partial shade or keeps them in a place where they can receive bright, indirect sunlight. Their large velvety, trumpet-like vibrant flowers make them worth watching. Water gloxinia when the topsoil of the container feels dry to the touch. You can add fertilizer once a month during the growing period.
When growing plants in shade or indoors you would need to turn plants regularly, so all sides of the plant get equal sunlight. When placing a new plant indoors, locate it in the brightest corner so that it can get maximum bright light. Don’t add excess fertilizer. Lastly, if you feel that your plants need more light, consider artificial lighting, this will supplement the natural sunlight to some extent.
