Shade gardens, just like their full sun counterparts, can really benefit from the addition of compost. Adding compost to planting holes, the base of most trees, shrubs, flowers and plants will help them thrive and and be strong. However, some gardeners mistakenly assume that you cannot have a compost heap in a shade garden.
While it is true that the composting process happens most quickly in full sun conditions, you will be able to produce excellent compost in the shade as well, albeit a little slower. All that is needed for composting to take place is organic materials, the presences of oxygen, the proper microorganisms and moisture. Sun is not necessary for the composting process to take place.
If you have not started a compost pile in your yard because it is shady, you should not hesitate to start one soon. Compost piles should be large enough that they can heat up internally (three feet tall and wide, at least). If you do not want to see them, you could plant some larger shade loving plants in front of it to create a screen (although make sure you have easy access to the pile as well). Or you can invest in a compost bin to help with the process (tumbling compost bins are especially handy devices for quick and easy composting).
Many types of household and yard waste can be composted. For the more adventurous, you can even experiment with a composting toilet, which will produce compost usable in your shade garden as well. For more information about how to compost and compost bins, you can visit "The Composting Bin" website. And for more information about shade perennial flowers and plants for your shade garden, return to the Shade Perennial Garden homepage.
