Shade Gardens for Dry Conditions
Most gardens are subject to some shade, which can be a blessing and a curse. To compound the issue, shade gardens can lack moisture. In these areas, plants that are both drought and shade tolerant are key.
To begin, there are different types of shade. Dappled shade under the light canopy of a locust tree is not as shady as an area beneath a maple tree. Locations on the north side of a building can cast even more shade. To provide more light, prune low tree branches. Even shade-tolerant plants grow better with filtered light. Alternatively, you can design a shady garden that peaks in spring, before the leaves appear.
Moving shade, where an area is shady only part of the day or year, might be less challenging since they receive some sunlight. However, plants that get morning shade, followed by a blast of sun in the hot afternoon can be taxed.
Dryness can be relative, too. If the underlying soil is sand, water drains quickly. On clay sites, the water may pool, or the soil might set like cement when it dries. In each case, a generous addition of organic matter can help slow water percolation, hold moisture and prevent further evaporation.
Dryness also comes from trees. Their roots compete for nutrients and moisture, and it is this, not the quantity of light, that can be the biggest challenge. If your shade plants share their root space with trees, you may need to give them extra fertilizer and water, especially during times of drought.
Thus, the degree of your difficulty depends on the amount of shade, soil structure and root competition. Some plants are known for their tolerance to dry-shade. These include: Coralbells (Heuchera), Foamflower (Tiarella), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum), Lungwort (Pulmonaria), Hellebore (Helleborus),Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla), Wild ginger (Asarum), Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum), and some ferns (i.e. Japanese painted fern and Christmas fern).
When stocked with shade-tolerant plants, a shady area is often the most inviting part of the garden on hot summer days.
Submitted by Brenda Gallagher