Any farmer strives to use every meter of his summer cottage as efficiently as possible. One of the most difficult questions in this regard: what to plant in the shade in the country? Shade-loving plants - a catalog of garden and horticultural crops is located in this article on our site about - this is the best solution.
Discussing this question, it is important to consider that the degree of shading of the plots is different. For example, an area with north side buildings or fences will be without sun for almost the entire day, and shade in other areas may appear only for some part of the day. Many light-loving crops can grow in a slightly shaded area.
Greens that can grow without sun
Growing some types of greens in low-sun conditions is perhaps even easier than growing completely. open area. This happens for the reason that it is very demanding on watering. In view of this, for summer residents who do not have the opportunity to often water the beds with greenery, it will be more lush and juicy when growing in the shade, where moisture does not evaporate for a long time.
Horseradish - a shade-loving plant for summer cottages
So, with a deficiency of ultraviolet light, they feel great different kindssalads and sheet mustard. You can also pay attention to sorrel and spinach. The shadow, of course, will adversely affect their size, but such greens will remain fresh and tender much longer, without being filled with bitterness. It is considered especially shade-loving horseradish- it can be planted in a deaf shade.
In conditions of deficiency of UV rays, it also develops well. parsley , parsnip , basil and celery. Also in such places it will take root well. mint , oregano , thyme. All of these green plants can be safely planted in the garden or near buildings. However, one nuance is important - when spraying garden plants beds should be protected from chemicals.
Vegetables for shady corners of the cottage
Shade-loving is considered rhubarb. If you are new to this vegetable, but you have a free area of \u200b\u200bland in the shade, we strongly advise you to pay attention to it. Sour stems perfectly complement the taste of soups, salads and various desserts. You can cook a delicious and refreshing summer compote. By the way, rhubarb reproduces better by dividing the rhizome.
Perhaps this will seem strange to many summer residents, but in the shade of trees you can safely plant beets. This growing method is suitable for those who like small and tender root crops. It is impossible to grow large beets in the shade.
Rhubarb grows well in the shade Garlic and wild garlic, combining the taste of garlic and onions, are not shade-loving herbaceous plants, but they grow quite well in a shady area. Of course, in these circumstances, you do not need to count on a particularly rich harvest, but if you have a shortage of usable summer cottage area, then it is better to plant something in the sun that needs bright light more. In the shadow chives will be especially juicy, as well as slime onion .
Among the non-frizzy legumes plants can also easily find varieties suitable for growing in the shade. Agronomists especially recommend planting them near apple trees. different varieties. After harvesting the pods, it is advised not to burn the tops, but to lay them out as a mulch layer. This measure is useful for enriching the soil with nitrogen.
Cabbage broccoli not suitable for growing in dense shade in the country, however, in diffused light, it will feel great. In shading, you can risk planting corn or eggplant hybrids specially bred for such conditions cucumbers .
Berry bushes that are shade-loving
In partial shade, many of the berry bushes beloved by summer residents grow well. Feel the best there chokeberry ,irga and blue honeysuckle . Near trees or under a fence, summer residents often plant raspberries, expecting especially juicy and large berries. However, the sun should fall on the bushes at least a few hours a day.
Currant, which usually grows in swampy areas, does not tolerate the burning rays of the sun. It grows well in partial shade. southern regions. In cooler regions, the harvest will have to wait much longer. Under the open sun, the berries will be smaller, but much sweeter in taste.
Currant tolerates shade well Rose hip , elder and viburnum- also suitable plants for a shaded summer cottage. The reduced yield in this case is compensated by the high decorativeness of these shrubs.
Ornamental plants for shade
In a deep shade, you can plant representatives who prefer such conditions. needles. They will not only decorate the site, but also saturate the air with a pleasant and soothing aroma. Summer residents who are not sorry to take a shaded piece of land for an ornamental plant often plant such shrubs in shaded areas:
dogwood,
wisteria,
action,
weigela,
jasmine,
spirea,
hydrangea,
kerria,
viburnum viburnum,
snowberry,
wild grapes,
privet,
boxwood,
euonymus,
barberry tumberga.
Although the listed shrubs do not produce a crop that can be used for food, they are able to perfectly decorate shady places in the country. Either way, it will look better than empty ground. After all, it is impossible to create even a beautiful grassy cover in such places.
And finally, in a shaded area in the country, you can plant shade-loving flowers. These include:
1. Annuals:
balsam,
calendula,
fragrant tobacco.
2.Biennials:
forget-me-nots,
pansies.
3.Perennials:
lilies of the valley,
irises,
periwinkle,
muscari,
wild rosemary,
saxifrage,
astilbe,
catchment,
brunner,
host.
As you can see, you have a wide choice of what to plant in the shade in the country. Shade-loving plants (the catalog of crops is provided above) can be found from the vegetable and garden groups. It is best to plant some suitable greenery in the shade, where it will not lack moisture. You can try to grow beets, rhubarb, onions, garlic, eggplant, some varieties of cucumbers and corn in such conditions. From berry bushes, raspberries and currants are suitable. Well, the most wide range of provided in a group of ornamental bushes and flowers.
First you need to decide on the "quality of the shadow", because it can be very different.
- Stable, for example, along the northern wall of the house, where the direct sun never looks.
- Partial shade, for example, near an east-facing wall, where there is sun in the morning, and a steady shade in the late afternoon.
- Scattered, for example, under the crowns of trees or shrubs.
It should be noted right away that there are not so many profusely flowering shade crops that give bright flowers all summer, or at least they cannot be found in the lists of familiar summers. Most truly shade-tolerant plants have graceful, delicate, and fast-fading flowers. And most of them are perennials that rarely produce flowers all summer - it makes sense to think about several crops that will succeed each other.
Therefore, we will consider all shade crops that will provide a bright decorative effect, not necessarily due to flowers, but, for example, beautiful leaves, throughout the warm season, and also consider the timing of flowering of all possible crops for different types shadows.
The most spectacular and long-blooming crops that can tolerate partial shade
The following are flowers that bloom really brightly, for partial shade, partial or diffuse shade:
- - many spectacular hybrid varieties for abundant flowering, they require good lighting, however, in nature, this plant grows on the edges of forests, that is, in partial shading, so it is quite possible to create a beautifully flowering bed of daylilies in the shade, if you choose the right varieties - it is especially beautiful in partial shading (in the morning - the sun, in the afternoon - a light shadow) varieties of dark shades look (red-black, purple-black, purple), they fade in the sun and quickly wither. According to the timing of flowering, there are different groups, the duration of flowering is about a month, but you can combine different varieties and get a long-blooming flower bed.
- - for abundant flowering, good lighting is desirable for him in the morning and shadow since noon. blooms from the beginning of June to the end of July, after correct pruning re-blooms towards the end of August.
- — blooms all summer, feels great in partial shade, flowers like foxglove, only brighter and larger, pretty rare plant, albeit undeservedly.
- Pansies- This charming summer plant grows both in the sun and in partial shade. In the sun the flowers are larger and brighter, but in partial shade the flowering will be longer. The timing of flowering can be varied at your discretion (by sowing seeds in a different period).
- Balsam- the plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, it needs only diffused light. blooms July to frost.
- ever blooming begonia- requires bright, but diffused light, can burn out in direct sun, blooms all the time, in open field grown seedling way like an annual.
- Fragrant tobacco-blooms from June until frost. Likes well-lit places, but light partial shade is acceptable.
- astilba- blooms in June-July, about a month, loves a sparse soft shadow. Panicle flowers are very spectacular, there are many varieties. The appearance of the plant is elegant, feminine, bright.
- Astrantia- the flowering period depends on the variety, but this is one of the longest-playing plants, some varieties bloom from June to the end of September, feels good in the sun, in partial shade, and even in full shade (only in heavily shaded places, flowering will not be so bright), grows well under trees.
- mimulus- in direct sun it can burn, the best place is well lit, but with partial shading. blooms original flowers resembling orchids, in two waves - in spring and autumn.
Astilbe and hosta ‘Sun Power’
Medicinal, spicy, aromatic herbs feel good in partial shade:
- peppermint,
- radiola pink,
- tarragon,
- borago,
- perennial bows,
- Melissa officinalis.
Penumbra or scattered shade is well tolerated specific peonies: Maryin root, Caucasian, Wittmann - bloom from the beginning of May to the end of June, since August, the bushes adorn quite spectacular fruits. Many herbs and cereals also grow well in partial shade (, cortaderia, gray fescue).
Of the bulbs, they tolerate a lack of lighting well:
- Daffodils.
- Kandyk.
- Merender.
- Grouse.
- Whiteflower.
- Scylla (scilla).
- Korolkovia.
- Iridodictums.
- Pushkin.
- Muscari.
- Crocuses.
- Hyacinthoides.
Tulips, primroses, pansies.
Plants that love light but can thrive in partial shade
That is, these plants can give abundant flowering in a flower bed, for example, on the western or eastern side of the house, where the light only gets part of the day. If they are planted on such a site, then they should be treated as capricious, and provide very good other conditions ( correct soil, watering, fertilizing). All these plants bloom brightly and for a long time:
- Snapdragon.
- Ageratum.
- Levkoy.
- Balsam.
- Lobelia.
- Poppy self-seed.
- Petunia.
- Pansies.
- Sweet pea.
- Kobe.
- Carnation grenadine.
- Daisies.
- Heliotrope.
- The bell is medium and large-flowered.
The bell is medium.
Flowering plants for deep shade
These are plants for the shade, where the direct sun never hits. They will feel good in the shade of buildings, even on the north side, under the dense canopy of trees, near the fence:
- Aquilegia (catchment) – blooms in June-July. Flowering time can be extended by picking off wilted flowers, preventing them from setting seed pods.
- . Almost all species grow well in partial shade, climbing aconite feels great in the shade. Flowering time varies 20 to 60 days depending on the type. Extremely poisonous!
- Brunner- blooms spring, at good care May re-bloom in autumn.
- Cyanosis.
- Fragrant violet.
- Bathing suit.
- Primrose common.
- Chistous.
- Forget-me-nots.
- Digitalis.
- Anemone.
- Black cohosh.
- May lily of the valley.
- Violet fragrant.
- Tiarka hearty.
- Kupena.
- Elecampane is excellent.
- Spring umbilical.
- Lungwort.
- Fragrant woodruff.
- Turkish carnation.
- Cuff.
- Cornflower mountain.
- Dicentra.
- Doronicum orientalis.
- Gentian.
- Garden geranium.
- Avens.
- Hellebore.
- Siberian irises.
Ferns (shield, ostrich) look great in the shade, although they do not bloom.
Variegated lily of the valley and astilba.
shade under the trees
Some tree species create a light openwork shade, but at the same time they dry the soil a lot and this factor must be taken into account, because most shade-tolerant crops prefer moisture. Grows well in shade and dryness.
- bought broadleaf,
- periwinkle,
- Goryanka,
- forest anemone.
- spring primrose,
- badan,
- comfrey,
- garden geranium red-brown or Balkan.
- cereals.
Under a pine tree where sandy or sandy loam soil:
- lilies of the valley,
- periwinkle,
- survivors
- violets.
Trees and shrubs for shady areas
Shade-tolerant trees and shrubs may be required for compositions:
- korean fir,
- elderberry black,
Creepers for shade
The most popular for shady areas:
- round-leaved tree pliers - universal, grows both in good light, and in the shade, and in partial shade. However, in dense shade it does not bear fruit;
- actinidia kolomikta - beautiful decorative leaves of motley changeable color;
- ivy - grows well even with strong shading.
It is worth noting that most vines, being plants dependent on support, which in nature is usually a tall, shade-producing tree, are used to a lack of lighting.
This applies even to such a spectacular culture as. Many large-flowered hybrids like coolness, not higher than 25 degrees, and light or shade is secondary for them and shade may even be preferable - if it gives coolness.
Wintergreen (with red berries), skimmia, hellebores and ivy.
decorative leafy
Spectacular macro-sized for shade with expressive foliage:
- - blooms for a month from mid-July to mid-August. Has exotic leaves, decorative all season and especially beautiful in autumn.
- - blooms for about a month, in August. Powerful, juicy, sculptural plant.
- - flowering depends on the variety, some varieties are characterized by incredibly persistent flowering - up to 2 months. Textured appearance, fleshy round leaves. Ideal Conditions for culture - penumbra.
- - blooms for about a month in the middle of summer with spectacular panicles. Openwork foliage. The plant is graceful, refined, elegant, lush.
- – landing recommendations vary greatly. In any case, varieties with dark leaf color feel great with strong shading, lighter ones need light partial shade. The appearance of the plant is exotic, bright, vibrating.
- - classic shaded areas. Decorative throughout the growing season. It goes well with any other plants, has a lot of shapes and colors that are good both in single plantings and in compositions.
- Chistets Byzantine- loves good lighting, but also grows well in partial shade. Attracts attention with pubescent, woolly leaves of a bluish-gray hue.
Ground covers:
- Pachysandra- a frost-resistant shrub up to 25-35 cm high. Flowering is inexpressive, but is valued for its dense decorative foliage that does not change its appearance throughout the year.
- Gaulteria- an evergreen ground cover shrub 10-15 cm high, blooms with elegant white flowers in June-August, then the plant is decorated with spectacular bright edible fruits that last until late spring. Feels great under trees.
- White-rimmed gout- beautiful white-green foliage, the plant is very unpretentious.
- Mother of thousands- the leaves are similar to ivy leaves, beautiful "lipped" flowers appear on the plant from June until frost.
- European hoof- has juicy fleshy large and thick leaves in the form of a hoof, creates a dense coating.
- Yasnotka- very beautiful silvery leaves, bright spongy flowers. Likes good lighting, but sparse, best places- those where the western or eastern sun falls.
Hosta, Geranium, Lavender.
Container garden in the shade
Shade-tolerant plants that do not overwinter in the open field in the middle lane, but you can plant them in pots and create a container bed. If desired, they can be dug in so that the pot is not visible. If there is an opportunity to mess around with digging for the winter, you can plant them in open ground for the summer, although for middle lane it is a rarity. All of the plants listed below are decorative all summer and do not tolerate direct sunlight. The best place for them - penumbra, or east windows:
- Skimmia- semi-shrub, leathery glossy foliage, bright inflorescences all year round.
- Coleus- does not like direct scorching rays of the sun. Highly decorative all summer.
- begonias- both tuberous and ever-flowering need bright diffused light, but not scorching sun.
- Caladiums- in the West they are actively grown in open ground, in the middle zone only in pot culture. The leaves are extremely beautiful.
- Fuchsia- needs no introduction. Charming in standard form. Blooms from spring to late autumn, feels good in partial shade.
- Torenia- blooms all summer. Requires good lighting, but does not like direct midday sun.
Composition example
To create a flower bed in the shade that blooms all summer, you can competently “mix” plants with different, albeit short, flowering periods.
For example, a composition for a very wet penumbra:
- Kaluzhnitsa - low bushes, 30-40 cm, blooms in early spring, from late April to May, for 2-3 weeks. There are terry varieties.
- Lungwort.
- Forget-me-not.
- Astilbe.
- Hosts.
- garden geranium. The best types for shade: Himalayan, marsh, meadow.
In the photo Terry marigold - Caltha palustris ‘Flore Pleno’
Top 10 Shade Tolerant Flowers on Video
Review ornamental plants for shadow from HitSadTV channel. The presentation of the material is original - in the form of a rating with winners and losers. Of course, the places are determined by the opinion of the editors of the channel. It is all the more interesting to make your own rating of the most beautiful shade-tolerant crops.
Unpretentious shade-loving perennials
In the video below, a selection of the most energy-efficient shade-loving flowers: these are perennials - which means you don’t need to plant them every year, they are generally unpretentious - which means they won’t require “dancing with tambourines”.
The sunlit corners of the garden often look abandoned, because the hands reach them last. Whatever you plant, stretches and dies without light, unless you specifically pick up shade-loving flowers. It is believed that there are few such plants in nature, but this is not so. They are mainly represented by perennials.
What are shade flowers
Not all plants react equally to the sun's rays. Flowers that do not tolerate excess light are called shade-loving. As a rule, such specimens have thin leaves. Ideally, they should only be illuminated by the morning sun for about 3 hours.
Shade-loving perennials
When developing a darkened area, they begin with low-maintenance plants, for example, bulbs. The choice is quite wide: daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths. Usually they are planted under trees, they have time to fade before the crown is covered with leaves. The minus of the bulbous ones is the early death of the aerial part, in June the foliage dries out.
Throughout the summer, the following shade-loving perennials retain their decorative effect.
For the bizarre shape of the flowers, the Germans called this plant "elves' shoes." We are talking about aquilegia (catchment). Thanks to the rod-shaped root, it stores moisture and minerals, so it will tolerate occasional watering. It does not tolerate transplanting, it is better to propagate by seeds. Most garden forms can withstand frost without shelter.
When preparing a seat for aquilegia, the soil is dug up with the addition of humus or compost.
Plants with paniculate inflorescences look picturesque. Like burning candles, they drive out the darkness of astilba. They are tolerant of stagnant moisture, grow in areas with high groundwater, and do not tolerate prolonged drought. They winter well when mulched with tree bark.
Astilba flowering begins in July and lasts 25-35 days
Perennials with decorative leaves are highly valued. One of them is the large-leaved brunner. This is moisture-loving plant prefers poor soils. Characteristic- impressive white patterns on the leaves. Propagated by dividing the bush at the end of summer.
Brunner needs high humidity air, so it grows well near water bodies
Large plants rarely like shade. The exception is Volzhanka, or aruncus. Openwork greenery and paniculate inflorescences will decorate a shaded garden. It is not demanding on the structure of the soil, but is picky about the composition, so the planting pit is filled with humus. Needs abundant watering. To preserve moisture, the ground around the bush is mulched with needles.
Due to the spectacular appearance, the Volzhanka is often used in a single landing.
Geichera
AT recent times Fantastically beautiful shade-loving plants have been bred. Of course, these are geyhers, striking with the catchy color of the leaves. They are unpretentious, but they die due to root blockage, so drainage is required. The socket grows, it must be hilled annually. The root zone is mulched with gravel. They overwinter well when covered with oak leaves.
Geichera love light soil with the addition of coarse sand and crushed bark
Geranium
Plants whose ancestors lived under the forest canopy still prefer shade. These include and unpretentious species garden geraniums: forest, red-brown and Roberta. These are cold hardy flowers. They do not tolerate stagnant moisture, so sand is added to the soil for them. Propagated by dividing the bush.
Perennial geraniums of forest species are responsive to top dressing with ashes
Ground covers are attractive because, growing, they occupy large area, which does not require weeding, as weeds are oppressed. One of these plants is tenacious, or ayuga. Grows in any conditions, but without direct sun forms a luxurious dense carpet. Ideal plant for beginners, requires almost no watering.
The most spectacular survivors - with variegated leaves
Bell
Flowers with thin petals will not last in the scorching sun and day. Therefore, in the shade of a house or trees, forest types of bluebells are planted: broad-leaved, dotted, nettle-leaved. They do not tolerate moisture stagnation. Winter shelter is not required.
All bells are resistant to diseases and pests
Ferns grow well in acidic moist soils. For example, nomads survive in the lowest and damp places. Varieties with red and silver leaves create a fabulous atmosphere in the garden. Propagated by division of the rhizome. Winter-hardy.
All varieties of kochedyzhnik look very elegant
hosta
There is a plant without which a modern garden cannot do. This is the queen of the dusk - hosta. Its corrugated, sometimes with white or yellow leaves appear from the ground late, at the end of May. But the rest of the host's time is overshadowed by the beauty of its green counterparts. Unpretentious, prefers cultivated loams.
Variegated hostas are not planted in deep shade; several hours of morning sunlight are needed so that the leaves do not lose their varietal color.
When choosing hosts, keep in mind: the closer the shade of the leaves to blue, the more shade-loving the host is.
Overview of shade-loving perennials - video
Shade-tolerant annuals
Plants that live one year usually bloom profusely. But they need to get a lot of light for photosynthesis. Therefore, among annuals there are almost no shade-loving ones. But there are shade-tolerant specimens that have enough sunlight until lunch, however, flowering will not be so plentiful.
Lobelia
Plants with delicate foliage and flowers are suitable for the eastern exposure of the house. AT modern gardens Lobelia is often chosen. Ampel varieties fall beautifully when planted in containers. Grown through seedlings.
Lobelia is often planted at the feet of taller partners such as ferns.
Nasturtium
Among annuals, flowering from June to frost is most popular. Nasturtium fits perfectly into this category. Its yellow, orange, scarlet flowers seem to hover above rounded waxy leaves. The plant is moisture-loving, but for generous flowering it is watered only after the soil has dried.
Nasturtium does not tolerate transplanting well, it is better to sow it immediately in a permanent place
Bright yellow flowers enliven the shadow. Among annuals, the most unpretentious are rudbeckia. Require moderate watering, give self-seeding. Grow on any soil. There are varieties with orange flowers.
All types of tobacco are moisture-loving
Every garden has little-visited shady corners. The whimsical plants planted there often wither because of our forgetfulness. Thus, my tender lungwort died without watering. In such areas, I advise you to settle a periwinkle or tenacious.
In the shady places I visit, perennials grow well: oak anemone, spotted loosestrife, geranium, broad-leaved bell, hellebore, virgin tradescantia, hosta, yaskolka. They are always in sight, so I do not forget to provide them with moisture in a timely manner. The most capricious is a brunner, in the heat I water daily.
Neighbors decorated shady areas with lilies of the valley, daisies, primroses, Siberian irises, hostas. Everything grows and pleases.
For planting in the shade, it is better to choose bulbous and perennials. Annual flowers bloom sparsely without sun. For beginners among centenarians, it is better to choose plants that do not need daily watering. So that the inflorescences and leaves are large, fill the soil before planting before planting.
On each suburban area There are places where there is little sunlight. Ordinary flowers cannot be planted in such places, as they will die from lack of light. But there are flowers that, even with a lack of light, can delight with their flowering. Before choosing suitable plant it is necessary to determine the amount of light entering the area.
Choosing a plant according to the degree of its light-loving
It is believed that the area of \u200b\u200bthe garden that receives the least direct sunlight is not suitable for growing. beautiful flowers. There are places in which direct sunlight falls only in the morning and evening for a few hours a day, or not at all. On the north side of buildings, plants have a particularly difficult time, since only diffused light can fall on them.
All flowers that can grow in such conditions are usually divided into 2 groups:
- shade-loving, which grow and develop better in the shade than in the sun;
- shade-tolerant - easily tolerates both direct sunlight and shaded places
Shade-loving plants can easily cope with total absence direct sunlight, and shade-tolerant well suited for landscaping dimly lit areas.
Choosing shade-loving plants for heavily shaded areas
First, there are 2 types of flowers that can be planted in the shade:
- annuals;
- perennial.
Perennials are more popular, as they require less maintenance and bring aesthetic pleasure longer.
Among them are one of the most unpretentious plants- Hosta, or as Funkia is also called. It's very beautiful perennial, which grows in big bouquet green leaves with silver stripes. Hosta flowers are white or lilac in color and look like small brushes. Even the biggest shadow is nothing to her.
The plant is not demanding for care. The basic rules that every host owner needs to know are:
- you can not water the leaves of the plant, this will lead to their early drying;
- in early spring, it is recommended to plant a plant only after the complete cessation of frost;
- you can divide the bushes of the plant only in the spring, when the leaves have not yet blossomed.
Another bright representative of shade-loving flowers is Begonia everblooming. Previously, this plant was grown exclusively in room conditions, but thanks to modern breeding, shade-tolerant street varieties have appeared. However, the plant is afraid of frost, so it is an annual.
The plant has small size, only 15-20 cm. But its numerous flowers with bright green fleshy leaves simply fascinate with their beauty.
Begonia propagates by seeds or cuttings. Seeds are sown in winter, in early February. In order for the germination process to occur faster, it is necessary that the temperature during this period be around 22 degrees. After the seedlings have 2 leaves, the plants can be transplanted.
Cuttings can be obtained from begonias that overwintered in the house. They are cut and planted in fertilized soil. During this period, it is necessary to carefully water the plant. After the shoots appear, they are cut off and transplanted.
The best flowers for lightly shaded areas
In those places where the sun's rays appear at least for a few hours a day, you can grow a much larger variety of flowers. Sparse crowns of trees, for example, let in a sufficient amount of light, while creating a large shadow.
There are plants that have adapted with great success to such a neighborhood and can easily get by with even a fleeting ray of light. These include:
- aquilegia;
- astilbe;
- badan;
- aconite klobuchkovy.
Most summer residents appreciate aquilegia very much. And all because this perennial plant does not require much care and is very hardy. At the same time, aquilegia blooms with beautiful blue flowers, which are popularly called "catchment" for their shape.
Aquilegia is planted in loose moistened soil at a distance of 30 cm between the bushes. The plant does not need watering, propagates by self-sowing, seeds. Life cycle aquilegia for about 4-6 years, after which the plant must be removed from the flower bed.
A good decoration for poorly shaded places will be the Astilba flower. This perennial plant has a very showy pyramidal inflorescence and original leaves. It will certainly become a decoration for any cottage.
However, the plant is very picky. It grows in well-drained and moist soil. For constant and bright flowering, the plant needs a lot of water, so they plant it near water bodies, or arrange constant watering.
Astilbe propagates by rhizome, so in the fall top part plants completely die off, and shoots appear again in spring.
A garden is a composition of trees, shrubs and flowers. But often it is the latter that get only the remnants of the sun. Luckily, there are many plants that can or want to thrive even in heavy shade. Skillfully using these properties, you can create a shady garden with your own hands, skillfully filling in " dark spots» luxurious or exquisitely restrained compositions.
Do you know your land
To make the plants feel comfortable and delight the eye with juicy foliage and bright colors, you need to know the type and acidity of the soil, the degree of shading. Perhaps these are the three fundamental successful growth of your green pets.
Clay or loam: what's the difference
Don't judge soil by its color. It depends not only, as is commonly believed, on the amount of clay, but also on the incoming minerals. You can learn for sure about your mother earth in the truest sense of the word effortlessly.
Moisten a small lump of earth and roll a flagellum or sausage out of it - whoever you like, roll it into a ring. The thickness of the product should be a little more than 3 mm, and the diameter should be 2-3 cm. Now we carefully look at what happened and find out the type of soil.
- Sandy soil will not succumb to rolling or twisting. It is poor and requires the application of compost and powdered peat.
- A fragile ball is a sandy loam, which also needs to be enriched.
- The ringlet, easily disintegrating if you try to take it, is a light loam.
- Ring with cracks and fractures - medium loam.
- A solid lace, but the ring is cracking - heavy loam.
Note!
Loams are "warm", retain water and fertilizer well, but need constant composting and mulching.
- The ring without flaws is clay, the soil is very heavy for the roots. Rain makes it an impenetrable swamp, and drought makes it rock solid. Green manure, compost and mulch will gradually saturate the clay with "vitamins" and make it looser.
Note!
If you really want to plant lilies, and there is only a place in partial shade on clay, this is not scary.
Experienced gardeners guarantee that there will be fewer flowers, but they will please the eye longer.
Dig a hole into which a 5-liter bucket of sand-peat mixture or black earth will enter. The poured mound should rise 15–20 cm above the ground. seat ready.
Sour, not sour - guessing by currants
From school curriculum Several levels of soil acidity are known to exist:
- strongly alkaline (up to 9 pH);
- alkaline (8–8.5 pH);
- neutral (6–7 pH);
- slightly acidic (pH 5–6);
- acidic (from 4 to 5 pH);
- strongly acidic (less than 3.5 pH).
An acidic environment is avoided by earthworms; the activity of bacteria is reduced in it. As a result, the soil is compacted and poorly passes air and moisture. Information in in general terms, but it gives an idea of what the root system of your pets will develop.
Many cultures prefer neutral and slightly acidic conditions. Although such gourmets as rhododendrons, camellias, heather cannot live without "sour".
If you decide to grow plants for shady garden seriously and to the delight of posterity, you should buy litmus papers in an agricultural store - pH tests.
Your next steps:
- From a depth of about 10 cm, take a lump of earth.
- Clear of foreign objects.
- Air dry.
- Put the dried material into 30 ml of distilled water.
- Mix.
- When the earth settles, lower the dough into the water.
The paper strip will gradually change color. The instructions on the packaging will explain the level of acidity.
Other ways of testing will be almost from the realm of alchemy.
- Acetic. Drop a little on a handful of earth. Bubbles hiss like when soda is extinguished - normal earth, there will be no reaction - sour.
- Currant. Steam 3-4 blackcurrant leaves.
After cooling, mix the solution and dip the earth into it:
- a reddened solution will indicate a strong acidification;
- pink - medium acid;
- green - neutral,
- blue - alkaline.
shades of shadow
Depending on the time of year, the foliage of trees, the length of daylight hours, and the activity of lighting, the degree of shading of garden plots depends.
Garden flowers for shady places may require:
- penumbra - 3-hour direct solar lighting morning and evening with shade on a hot afternoon;
- full shade - about 3 hours of direct sun in the middle of the day and shade the rest of the time;
- diffused light - throughout the day.
Old deciduous trees do not pass precipitation well, and the roots intensively draw moisture from the ground. A dry shadow is formed under them, where bulbous plants can take root.
In the spring it will be lovely pearl snowdrops and blue bluebells, multi-colored columns of hyacinth inflorescences with an indescribable aroma, white and yellow daffodils with a sunny center, primrose rugs.
In partial shade, flowers with a diameter of up to 5 cm look spectacular anemone oak. It blooms from April to May. A miniature blue-white-pink blanda anemone appears from under the snow all at once - both leaves and flowers.
Autumn melancholy will be revived by pink and blue flowers colchicum (autumn colchicum) and crocus. Colchicum is an amazing flower. The onion sleeps and develops underground, shooting delicate flowers on a leafless stem up to 20 cm high only in autumn.
Headaches are areas with enduring dampness, where flowers for a shady garden will be in danger of rotting. This usually happens in places with a high horizon. ground water and clay soil or near bodies of water.
In damp penumbra, regardless of the soil, hearty houttuynia grows well. 30 cm high, the perennial is attractive with decorative foliage - a green middle and a yellow-red edging. It tolerates the winter of the middle lane well.
The perennial loosestrife monetizes well in shady places. Bright yellow flowers against the background of light round leaves look like a scattering sunspots. The price of your efforts will pay off in a couple of years with the formation of a dense curtain.
Smaller is better, more beautiful
A sense of proportion must also be present with. Agree, a chaotic cluster of even rare beauty of flowers will not make the proper impression. Colors and volumes will "argue", and in an attempt to express themselves, they will only get lost in the motley chaos.
The design of your garden can be:
- continuation natural area when in the already established world order and look natural for a particular place. This is a periwinkle with shiny leaves and an abundance blue flowers, fragrant lily of the valley, hairy lungwort with multi-colored inflorescences, sprawling bushes of the Siberian brunner - discreet, but full of quiet charm.
- decorated with flower beds that accentuate attention. For this purpose, it is impossible better fit hosta, eye-catching leaves of fantastic color - orange, yellow, blue, light green, bordered, contrasting pattern, spotted, speckled. With a height of 20 to 60 cm, hostas are suitable for rockeries and borders, in compositions with tall plants or as ground cover;
- in deep shade, there are no equal ferns, which look interesting in a duet with hostas. Common ostrich with an elegant bunch of brownish leaves in the middle, male shield with leaves up to 1.5 m long, foot-shaped maidenhair (loves a milder climate);
- with the inclusion of classical compositions. These include plants for shady corners of the garden, which have a constant decorative look- colored sheet, beautiful habitus ( appearance) and it is desirable that they be perennials. An open perspective favorably emphasizes the dignity of these landings;
- as an option, try planting a thin-leaved mock orange. Its delicate aroma will successfully replace a cup of expensive Chinese jasmine tea. At the time of flowering, it literally boils with snow-white foam, spreading over juicy greenery. Another winter-hardy perennial is the milky-flowered bell, a tall bush with a diameter of up to 0.5 m, blooms in mid-July so luxuriantly that it is almost completely hidden under blue-lilac and white.
Summarizing
An ornamental garden is hard work and pleasant relaxation. Secluded shady corners become fabulous shelters under the canopy amazing plants. Listening to the "wishes" of green friends, you can bring to life the most daring projects.