How to Plant a Shade Perennial Flower Garden

Observe the area where you'll be planting at different times of the day to see how much sun it receives. Some plants can grow in deep shade, while others require dappled shade or partial sunlight.

Inspect the soil. Most shade gardens have moist soil, but some are sheltered by large trees or shrubs that deflect rainwater and soak up all available moisture. If your garden is dry, water more frequently to compensate, even in rainy weather. The majority of shade plants prefer moist soil.

Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost and peat moss. This will encourage adequate drainage and increase acidity in alkaline soils. If the shade garden is under a tree whose roots are interfering with the plants, raised beds or container gardening is an alternative.

Plant flowers in the amended soil. Consider their heights, colors and blooming schedules when choosing placement in the garden. Common choices include bleeding heart, columbine, monkshood, day lily, bloodroot and astilbe.

Add plants with attractive foliage to showcase the flowers. Hostas and ferns are popular shade-loving plants. Ground covers such as periwinkle and lily-of-the-valley add beauty while suppressing weeds. Many ground covers are aggressive growers and can quickly get out of control, so choose carefully if your garden is not self-contained.

Add annual plants if desired to add color and to fill in among spent perennials. Impatiens, coleus and begonias have colorful blossoms that brighten dark, shady gardens.