Shade Gardens: Moist vs. Dry

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Carol A. Crotta

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Moisture lovers include pond-dwelling water lilies, which rely on the oxygen and nutrients in water to thrive.

There’s a good chance, as you plan your shade garden, that the image you have in mind is that of a moist shade garden, probably because shaded areas are damp in many cases. Where there’s little sun, there’s little moisture evaporation.

Moist shade isn’t confined to woodland settings. It can occur in areas of open shade created by tall buildings, along fences and walls, and under patio covers. Moist shade is a gracious host to many shade-loving plants and shrubs, such as hydrangeas and azaleas, most mosses and ferns, impatiens, phlox and primroses, to name just a few. When planted in rich, loose soil, a moist shade garden can enjoy great success and add a splendid touch of coolness to your yard in summer.

The localized humidity provided by a garden fountain creates a perfect environment for these moisture-loving shade plants.

If these are the plantings you crave, realize that it’s easy to revamp dry shade areas by installing an inground irrigation system. A number of today’s home irrigation systems provide multiple options for getting water to your plot – but you’ll need to be vigilant with your watering regimen. Too much water will cause many moist-shade plants, such as impatiens and most bulbs, to develop fungal disease. Adding pachysandra or bugleweed to the mix will help retain moisture. In addition, you’ll need to monitor moist garden areas for poor air circulation, which can go hand in hand with shady corners of a yard – particularly if the yard slopes downward. Clearing away low-growing shrub and tree branches will go a long way toward improving airflow.

Orchids may require regular misting to maintain the high humidity level they crave.

Dry shade areas are as conducive to planting as moist ones. Create dry shade with certain trees and shrubs, especially shallow-rooted and heavy feeders such as conifers, beeches and Norway maples, which can suck moisture out of the ground and away from tender-rooted perennials and annuals. Alternatively, use wide-roof eaves and patio-cover extensions that block rain from reaching the ground to create a dry-shade area. In addition, dry shade can be created in areas where the soil drains too quickly or the ambient air is hot.

Facts

Ferns are among the easiest shade plants to grow if you keep in mind that they’re adapted to moist, forest floors with rich leaf mold humus, where their rhizomes can run just under the soil surface yet tap ample water.
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Any type of water garden can be equipped with an auxiliary pump and intake pipe to provide pressurized water to mist the plants, ensuring them a continually and consistently moist environment.

Tips

Desert plants grown in the shade need even less water than their usual sparse requirements and can develop fungal disease if they get too much. If the soil is dry more than 1-2 inches beneath the surface, it’s time to water.
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Tools

Drip systems are well-suited to shade gardens, with their variety of plants each requiring individual attention. Moisture lovers can be watered heavily, while dry-shade plants can receive less irrigation through the choice of emitters with different flow rates. Moisture sensors can be included in the system to turn off the irrigation when it rains or to trigger a watering when the soil becomes too dry.
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Come to The Garden Party and share your shady garden with the rest of our Learn2Grow community. Post pictures, write a blog, or connect with our gardening experts and other home gardeners nationwide to share more shade garden tips and ideas. Have a question about gardening in the shade? Visit the Learn2Grow Forums and post a question for experienced gardeners to answer.

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Next Steps

Articles

Finding Your Place in the Shade
If you want to start a shade garden, the first order of business is to evaluate your garden site. By noting your area’s proper sun levels and soil conditions, your shady-garden vision can come to light!
The Many Faces of Shady Spaces
How do you want to use your shady garden space? As a display for foliage and flowers, a grown-up getaway for relaxing, a dining area or a place to stroll? Coming up with some shade garden ideas and a purpose before planting is the smart way to get growing.
Design by Function: Shade Garden
Dedicating a corner of your sunny yard to a shade garden is a great way to gain some backyard relief from the heat, as well as get some different plants in your garden that you otherwise couldn’t try. We’ll give you the design, you pick the plants!

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