Organic Shade Garden - Soil Is The Key To Having A Successful Shade Garden
by John Yazo
To most the challenge of growing a shade garden can be an overwhelming task and it seams much easier growing a flower garden in full sunlight. With a good soil maintenance plan you can have a shade garden that if full of life, color and thrive with beauty as a flower garden grown in full sunlight.
There are a large variety of plants that can thrive in the shade if the soil conditions are right for them. An enriched soil is the key to having a successful shade garden. Shade plants are just as easy to grow as a garden that has full sun and can be just as colorful.
To start a shade garden takes a little planning. Choose an area that you would like to have your garden. If it is in an existing natural wooded area that doesn't include a lawn the chances are that the soil will be in an acceptable condition for planting. The forest or woodlands have there own natural composting method that continuously replenishes the soil with nutrients from the decompositions of leaves and other spent growth that is in the forest. An area that has been maintained as a lawn doesn't have these same benefits due to the raking of leaves and other spent growth that gets disposed of at fall cleanup. Testing your soil is a good practice with any type of garden to see if any soil amendments are needed.
Once you have chosen your location it is time to pick the plants you want to grow. To start out if you are planting in an area that is directly under trees it is best to choose some early flowering plants that will bloom before the leaves come out and shade the area. You will have a larger choice of plants that flower early in the season than ones that will flower in full shade.
Bulbs type flowers like crocus, daffodil and tulips are excellent plants to include in a shade garden for early flowers. Mix them among foliage type ground covers that thrive in the shade like pachysandra, periwinkle and hostas. Impatiens are another flower that will add color to your shade garden by blooming throughout the entire season.
Growing a shade garden is easy to do and can add an inviting, relaxing atmosphere to your yard.
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