20 Shade Garden Design Ideas for Adding Color Anywhere (2024)

FAQs

How do you layout a garden design? ›

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

ADD COLOR TO SPECIAL PLACES IN THE LANDSCAPE

Create an area of year-round interest with beautiful shrubs and perennials such as Sprinter boxwoods and Denim n' Lace Russian sage. Then in spring bring emphasis to the area by adding colorful annuals that will thrive through fall.

Ugly shade also occurs under trees with very low hanging branches, such as evergreens which have branches just a foot or two off the ground. In these instances, plan to use mulch instead of planting there. Mulch will discourage weeds from growing and improve the aesthetics.

Partial shade is defined as a minimum of 3-6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Here are some inspiring ideas to elevate your partial sun garden. Layer Your Plantings: Layer your garden by placing tall plants at the back, shorter ones in the middle, and groundcovers at the front.

The traditional basic vegetable garden design has been straight and long rows running from north to south. Usually anything growing tall, like corn, beans or peas are planted on the north side of the vegetable garden to keep them from casting shade on the shorter crops.

A shade cloth can be DIY, such as an old white sheet, floating row cover, window screen or a piece of lattice. It can also be a roll of lightly woven material purchased to shade your SFG. Whatever kind you use, it will reduce how much heat can reach your plants via sunlight.

What is the best fertilizer for shade gardens? ›

Use a low nitrogen, slow release fertilizer like Milorganite that promotes steady above and belowground growth. The 85% organic material further helps improve the soil. Apply slow release fertilizers at planting and once again for annuals midseason.

Hanco*ck suggests using variegated shrubs or trees to add color and texture to a garden. Give similarly hued plants like hostas, dusty miller and succulents a tonal frame by placing them next to bluestone pavers, he suggests. Or play with scale perception by graduating dark and light greenery along a pathway.

The 3 complementary color pairs shown here are violet and yellow, red and green, and orange and blue. Here are some photos that illustrate the use of complementary colors in the landscape. The color duos below are orange and blue, violet and bright yellow, and violet and light yellow.

Cool colors (violets, blues, and greens) appear to recede in the landscape. They seem farther away than they really are, and can make small spaces feel bigger. Cool colors have a calming, soothing effect.

Part sun – Plants thrive with between 3 and 6 hours of direct sun per day. Part shade – Plants require between 3 and 6 hours of sun per day, but need protection from intense mid-day sun. Full shade – Plants require less than 3 hours of direct sun per day.

Shade gardens are a type of garden planted and grown in areas with little or no direct sunlight. Shade gardens may occur naturally or by design under trees, as well as on the side of buildings or fences.

If your yard is located in an area that doesn't get too much sun, choose plants that don't require regular sunlight. There are a variety of shade-loving plants you can plant in your yard, such as: Red-Twig Dogwood: Shade-tolerant red branches with rich green foliage. Its height makes it suitable as a border plant.

During the sweltering days of summer when the temperatures are regularly above 90°F, you can use shade cloth to lower the temperature underneath the cover. This is really the best and only way to protect your plants during such an extreme period.