How to Plant on the North Side of a House

Find out your growing zone. One of the keys to successful gardening in the sun or the shade is selecting the right kind of plants that will grow in your particular area. The USDA has published a helpful zone guide and most greenhouses and retail locations offer zone information on the plants they sell.

Select the right plants for shade. Just because the area is shady doesn't mean you can't have plenty of color. Plants such as Begonias, Impatiens, Fuschia and New Guinea Impatiens love shade and will thrive in that environment. There are also many greenery plants that can be used to further fill out the area. Shade plants such as Hosta, Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine thrive on the north side of a house.

Prepare the area for your plantings. Till up the planting area to release beneficial moisture and nutrients in the soil. This helps transplanted plants survive during the difficult transition period from the greenhouse to your home.

Moisten the soil. Whenever you transplant new plants, they will thrive and be easier to plant if they go into moist soil. The soil should not be dripping wet with standing water present, but should be moist to the touch.

Plant the flowers to the right depth. Plants often need a lot of room for their root structures, but this doesn't mean they should be too deep in the soil, or too shallow. The secret is right in the container the plant comes in and the state of the soil. For example, if you have a 4-inch pot, the plant should be planted 4 inches deep into the ground, and the soil underneath that 4-inch hole should be loose and not hard packed to allow for proper root system growth.

Maintain the area as necessary. Shade plants often love water -- and on hot days, even if they are not in sunlight, they will still need frequent watering. Weeding is also essential to proper growth of your new plants. Fertilization may be necessary depending on the nutrient content of your soil. If your new plants do not appear to be thriving, treat them with regular garden fertilizer as needed until they thrive.