MALLORY: Revitalizing the Shade Garden

Use plants of red, purple, pink, shades of green, white and yellows to revitalize a shade garden.

The list of easy-to-find possibilities is extensive — Japanese maple, hostas, bleeding hearts, hellebores, Japanese grass (Hakonechloa), azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, heuchera, ferns and variegated Solomon seal.

Any number of reasons can cause a shade garden to look sad and depleted. As plants have died, surrounding foliage may have filled in the blank spaces or perhaps the slow demise was unnoticeable at a distance. A garden may be revitalized without having to remove existing plants and starting from scratch. Here is a suggestion.

Begin by removing plants that need dividing or obviously are struggling. Because it's an established garden, tilling will destroy existing root systems. Amend the soil by hand. Use a hand trowel to add as much humus as possible; also put a layer on top of the soil.As additional plants are added, extend the diameter beyond what is needed and add humus to the soil that has been removed.

After planting, water and mulch the area.

Stand back and survey the garden. Taller plants will need to be placed in the middle if the garden surrounds a tree or to the back if located along a fence, hedge or the house.

A smaller variety of Japanese maple could expand the edge of the garden with additional garden space to accommodate varieties of bleeding hearts, ferns, heuchera and small hostas.

Hostas are the backbone of any shade garden, and there are many varieties on the market. I have seen shade gardens where only one variety of hosta had been used.

Dividing plants may be an economical way to expand the garden without increasing the investment; but unless the gardener's intent is to fill in a large, difficult area, the appearance can be monotonous.

Think of adding hostas in variations from chartreuse to deep blue (teal would be a more accurate description) to add to the collection. If the garden is located in dense shade, consider hostas in combinations of green/cream and white/green. In partial shade, plant hostas in various shades of blue, blue/white and white/purple/green. Flowers vary in color but most are lavender or white.

Azaleas, available in a wide range of colors, add mid-spring color that stands out against green vegetation. Read hydrangea labels carefully as they vary in height, width, sun/shade requirements and bloom color. Smaller 3-foot varieties may be planted near the edge of the garden or intermingled with ground covers.

If using a ground cover in a shade garden, select a low-growing variety such as Ajuga, which is easy to transplant and control. Pachysandra will overpower smaller varieties of shade plants but will do well with taller plants such as shrubs and trees.

When storms uproot trees and the initial shock has passed, gardeners think of creative ways to use the space. When shade becomes partial shade, many of the existing plants, especially native plants, will survive. However, one of the first things to consider is replacing trees. If the area borders the property line, evergreens such as hollies and firs can become a living fence that also provides nesting space for the birds.

Garden do's the next two weeks:

Keep birdfeeders filled as nature's supply diminishes.

Plan ways to improve the shade garden.
