gardens for dry shade

By Barbara Arnold

The phrase “the right plant for the right place” never held truer than in the dry shade garden. Many gardeners have planted a moisture lover in dry shade only to find themselves bothered by the work of dragging a hose out everyday. Garden areas with dry shade pose a dual challenge because they are lacking in two elements that many plants need in abundant quantities: water and sunlight. Full shade is defined as an area receiving less than four hours of sunlight per day. Lack of sunlight is obvious when one considers areas under trees, but one may not as readily recognize the equally challenging lack of water there. Rain often does not make it through the thick tree canopy, and the tree roots quickly absorb any moisture that does make it through the canopy. Dry shade conditions are characteristic of areas under shallow-rooted trees, like maples and pines, as well as beneath the eaves of north-facing walls. House eaves block large amounts of rain from falling on the ground immediately under them.

While gardening in these areas requires some extra work, don’t let dry shade conditions discourage you. Shade provides an opportunity to use foliage textures and colors to create an amazing garden. Plant sweeps of the same plants to create visual excitement. To give new plantings the best chance, water this garden once a week, deeply for the first couple of months. This will give the perennials an opportunity to grow deep roots while they are getting established.

Before installing plants in dry shade areas, you can improve your chances by mixing organic matter like compost into the soil. Sandy soils are like sieves and are notorious for quickly losing water. Mixing compost into the soil increases the soil's ability to retain water. Begin by digging a couple of inches of compost into the bed. If your garden is struggling because of large tree roots just scratch the soil in and around the tree roots, covering the roots with a thin layer of compost. Finish your plantings with a layer of mulch to help the ground retain water. Keep in mind that if you try creating a raised box bed it will soon fill up with fibrous tree roots, and with root competition, the bigger plant always wins. If your garden fails despite all your efforts, don’t be disheartened. You can also try filling some large containers with shade plants and placing them under the trees for a splash of color.

Recommended plants for a dry shade garden

Big-root geranium - Geranium macrorrhizum

Large leaves, with slight fragrance. Flowers in late spring. Don’t confuse these with common annual geraniums pelargonium.

Bishop’s hat - Epimedium x versicolor

Nice heart shaped leaves with small yellow flowers.

Dead nettle - Lamium maculatum

Fun leaf colors and patterns, blooms in pinks and whites.

English Ivy –Hedera helix

This ground cover can and will grow just about anywhere. Shiny dark green foliage.

Heart-leaved Bergenia - Bergenia cordifolia

Large , leathery evergreen foliage with pink flowers in spring. Plant in large groups for bigger impact.

Hellebores - Helleborus

Mottled foliage is attractive for the summer, flower in the spring and some in the winter.

Hosta - Hosta

Known for its leaf shapes and colors, hostas are a must have for a shade garden. In a dry shade garden they need supplemental compost mulch to keep them happy.

Periwinkle - Vinca minor

Common ground cover with showy blue flowers in spring. It has dark evergreen leaves that create a dense carpet.

Spiderwort - Tradescantia

Tiny pink, blue and white flowers in mid-summer; this plant does go semi-dormant later in summer.

Sweet woodruff – Galium ordoratum

Delicate leaves with white flowers, it does spread!;

E-mail your questions about dry shade gardens to Barbara Arnold at info@ourohio.org

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Click here to login or register.