Morning sun and afternoon shade like that found on the east side of a building is perfect for rhododendrons, camellias and other blooming shade shrubs.
The Olympian
This is a good week for scheming and dreaming about your garden. Spring ideas, indoors and outdoors, will soon be growing at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show, which runs Jan. 26-29 at the Tacoma Dome.
I will be speaking Jan. 28-29 about “Gardening on the Dark Side” and “Creative Container Gardening.” Here are a few take home ideas from my upcoming garden seminars at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show:
Tips for gardens in the shade
Know how much shade you have and when you have it. Morning sun and afternoon shade like that found on the east side of a building is perfect for rhododendrons, camellias and other blooming shade shrubs.
For deep shade, like on the north side of a building or under large trees, use shrubs with large leaves such as Fastia japonica and Acuba.
Shade-loving groundcovers like ajuga and vinca can help control weeds and erosion if you have the space. Groundcovers can gobble up real estate.
Plants growing in the shade need less fertilizer as they have a slower growth rate because of the lack of light.
Many shade-tolerant plants come from woodlands and forest. That means they like soil that is rich in organic matter created from falling forest debris. Add leaf mold or compost and mulch with bark chips to make them happy.
The best bloomers