A shady backyard can be a blessing.
However, if you have a lot of shade from trees with wide canopies or
from nearby buildings, you may not be able to grow an enjoyable
garden. Luckily, you can landscape even shady areas with the right
plan in mind. Below are several shade adaptation tips for designing a
shade-tolerant garden.
One of the most common problem areas
for growing grass is under a tree. Naturally, the wide canopy
prevents sunlight and sometimes even moisture from reaching the
grass. Therefore, if you plan to add sod under a shady tree, consider
pruning the tree back. The goal is to allow as much sunlight as
possible through to the sod.
Naturally, you don't want to create a
hole in your tree. So, in addition to the pruning, add some soil to
the area. The new sod will have to compete with the tree's roots for
nutrients, so you want to mitigate the competition in the initial
phases of growing. To that end, once you've laid the sod, you'll
probably need to add extra water and fertilizer at first.
Homeowners often despair at creating a
lush lawn if they have shady areas in their yard. The main problem is
likely the grass variety. Many lawn blends feature grasses like
Kentucky bluegrass, which doesn't tolerate shade well.
For cool lawns, meaning those
predominantly in cooler climates, the best lawn blends contain any
variety of fescue. You can find these blends in both seed and sod. A
side note is that fescues are symbiotic with a fungus called
endophytes. The fungus helps make the grass resistant to heat and
drought and even some insect infestation.
For warm lawns, meaning those in warmer
climates, the best grass is St. Augustine. This grass is found
exclusively as sod or sprigs, not seed. You can also look for sod
that contains Zoysia or Centipede grasses.
Truthfully, the shadiest area under an
established tree may be too much for new grass. So, consider a
mulched planting bed.
If you start in late summer or early
fall, you can use sheet mulching to create your bed. Mow any existing
grass in that area, but leave the clippings. Build your perimeter in
a material that best complements the rest of your hardscaping. Cover
the bed with cardboard. The cardboard and existing plants will
decompose and create mulch.
If you want your planting bed faster,
till the soil in the desire area and add fertilizer. You can then
cover the area in mulch after you've planted.
When you design your shade-tolerant
planting bed, you may want to use a shrub as backdrop. The following
shrubs can thrive with partial or even very little sun:
- Oakleaf hydrangea
- Rhododendron
- Virginia Sweetspire
- Serviceberry
- Daphne
Think about how you want your garden
bed to look from different angles, and plant the shrub so that it
provides a backdrop for the plants going in next.
Next, add some shade tolerant flowers
in front of the shrub. The following are just a few examples:
- Calendula
- Larkspur
- Fuchsia
- Impatiens
- Begonia
Your best bet is to consult with your
landscaping experts or local gardening center for shade-tolerant
flowers that will thrive in your soil.
You don't have to worry about this step
in the design phase. However, you will notice many benefits if you
aerate your lawn, which allows water, fertilizer, and air to reach
the roots. Aeration is especially useful for shady lawns to keep the
grass hardy.
When to aerate depends on whether
you've sodded a warm or cool lawn. Warm-season turf should be aerated
in late spring or early summer. Cool-season turf should be aerated in
early fall. The goal is to aerate just before grass enters its peak
growing phase.
Don't leave the shady area of your yard
bare. Instead, design a shade-tolerant garden. Consult with Wright
Turf Farms for more shade adaptation tips.
