Gardening in the shade presents certain challenges, and presents different opportunities than full sun garden areas. Here are some common questions and answers regarding gardening with shade loving flowers and plants:
Q) What kind of shade do I have in my garden, and how does the shade influence my selection of shade perennial flowers and plants?
A) Knowing what kind of shade you have is very important if you want to have a successful experience creating a shade perennial garden. Your shade category will determine what kind of shade perennial flowers and plants you can successfully grow in your shade garden. There are three main categories of shade for most gardeners: light shade, medium shade and full shade. For a full discussion of shade categories, read How Shady is Your Garden? Defining Shade Categories. Once you know what kind of shade you are gardening in, you may also be interested in reading about recommendations for Light Shade Perennial Flowers, Medium Shade Perennial Flowers or Full Shade Perennial Flowers.
Q) When is the best time to start a new shade perennial garden?
A) Spring is a good time to start many shade loving perennials, so they can become well established before the summer heat arrives. Fall is also an excellent time to establish a new shade garden, provided that plants have time to establish their root systems before winter. Summer and winter are poor times to start shade perennial gardens in many regions, although if you live in Zone 7 or above, winter might be a good time for you to start a shade garden. To read more about starting a new shade perennial garden, see the article Keys for a Successful Shade Perennial Garden.
Q) What are some good resources to find out more information about shade perennial garden flowers and plants?
A) There are many articles and tips listed on this website that should help you plan your shade perennial garden and select well adapted and beautiful shade loving perennial plants and flowers (for example, see Ten Top Shade Perennial Garden Plants, Easy to Grow Shade Loving Perennials, and Shade Perennial Garden Design Tips). However, one of the best books I have found to date for the shade perennial gardener, is W. George Schmid's "An Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials." You can purchase this online at Amazon.com and elsewhere.
In my next post, I will explore even more FAQ's about shade perennial flowers and plants. To read even more about shade perennial flowers and plant, please visit the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
