How to Lanscape in Shaded Backyards

Shade Analysis

• Make a site plan and perform a shade analysis. The amount of direct sunlight a garden receives is the most important factor in choosing plants that will do well. Draw a rough outline of the garden using a pad and pencil. Using a compass, walk the garden, checking which portions face north, south, east or west and note the orientation on your plan. Divide the plan into several sections. The sections can relate to the slope of the land or to existing plantings or features like a patio; they do not need to be equal in size. Check the areas in the early and mid-morning, noon, afternoon and late afternoon. Determine the shade level of each site section and note that on the plan.

Site Modification

• Take steps to increase the amount of sunlight in your back yard, especially if most of the lot consists of full or dense shade. Light shade is necessary for plants to flower and prevent your garden from being a sea of green. First, remove any brush, weeds and old, unsightly shrubs that are cluttering the site. Even if a yard faces due north, the lowest light condition, it will still have some light coming in from the east and west at the sides of the lot. Removing barriers in these areas will help illuminate large parts of the garden. In most cases, removing lower branches of tall trees will upgrade the light conditions underneath them.

Soil Analysis

• Determine whether the soil is moist, dry or average. Dry shade occurs most often under mature trees with thick, well-developed root systems. Garden centers sell moisture meters that measure soil water levels, but you can also perform a simple clump test yourself. Dig up a few inches of the soil you want to test, hold it in your palm and clench. Soil is moist if it forms a ball and leaves a moist outline in your palm. If the soil will not form a clump with pressure, it is dry. Average soil forms a clump then breaks when bounced in the palm. Some gardens will vary with dry shade under trees or in raised areas, and average or moist shade in lower areas or near a stream. Note the soil moisture level for each section on the plan.

Plan Beds; Features

• Select vantage points where you will enjoy the garden. Investigate the view from patios, decks, benches and paths. The most successful shade gardens improve the functionality of the yard while providing refreshment for the eye. Shady areas are naturally cooler in the hot months, but don’t always look refreshing. The key to keeping the view soothing is to vary plant materials by color, size and texture. Blend large and small-leafed plants and shrubs to provide texture. Use variety in leaf and flower colors to provide a range of color each season. Determine where privacy could be improved with taller shrubs and plants. Note the location of planned floral beds, features and shrubs on the site plan.

Plant Selection

• Using your light and soil analyses, select plants for beds and containers you want to add. Consult nursery tags for the light level and moisture requirements of each plant. To provide continuous, multi-season interest, plant a variety of spring bulbs, summer annuals, perennial plants, blooming deciduous shrubs and evergreen shrubs. Dwarf Japanese iris, primroses, yellow trillium and astilbes do well in moist, shady conditions. Flowering plants that don't mind light dry shade include oak leaf hydrangeas and heucheras. Most shade gardens have areas that will benefit from the addition of hellebores, perennial ferns and hostas and flowering shrubs like azaleas and viburnums. When in doubt about the suitability of a plant, ask the garden center staff if it will do will work in your location.