Think your garden is a bit grounded? Lift it to whole new level – into a tree, up a trellis or atop an arbor. Vertical gardening works particularly nice with shade gardening since the shade source often provides a built-in support for vertical plantings like vines and container gardens.
Walls can provide great support for climbing plants.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Image Point
Growing plants at eye level gives you a whole new perspective on beauty.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/Reed Estabrook
Growing vertical is actually easy to do no matter your garden’s situation. If your shade is created by an arbor or overhead trellis, soften the edges of the structure by training sun-loving vines such as bougainvillea up posts and across the top. If your arbor is very open and doesn’t offer much shade, the trailing foliage of a substantial vine like wisteria can create the shade you want below.
There also are shade-tolerant vines that can enhance both living and man-made elements of your shade garden. Most ivy cultivars will scale the trunk of a tree happily, but you have to be careful to contain the ivy’s growth so it doesn’t engulf the tree entirely – potentially killing it.
Or perhaps you prefer to adorn the branches of your trees. With the right humidity, either natural or supplied through a misting system, you can “attach” some unusual plantings to a tree. The staghorn fern and orchids are epiphytes, meaning they’re perfectly suited to open shade that maintains some humidity. Attach them to a tree trunk with soft cotton cord; the plant will eventually send roots into the tree bark for support as the cotton cord biodegrades.
Or perhaps you like pops of bright color interspersed among your trees’ foliage. Then consider suspending hanging baskets for added color, depth and texture at eye level.
Hanging containers are versatile additions to a shade garden. They can provide focal points, create intimacy, bring in spots of color and accentuate the twist of a beautiful tree branch or the good looks of an outdoor structure. You can also switch up the look and mood of your container garden simply by changing the annuals in the hanging baskets to announce a new season.
Just be sure to use the correct technique to suspend hanging planters from branches so you don’t damage the tree. Since hanging containers move freely in the wind, the hanging hardware can chafe and saw through limbs, killing branches and exposing the tree to disease. You can avoid this problem by installing a loose collar around the cord or chain of your hanging basket. Just take the simple steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions – then enjoy gardening at a whole new level!
Tree Hanging
Tree Hanging Step 1
To keep hanging baskets from damaging your trees, you need to hang them correctly. Thread the hanger cord through vinyl tubing that’s large enough so the cord freely moves inside it. The tubing should be at least as long as the tree limb’s circumference.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Tree Hanging Step 2
Securely attach one end of the hanger cord to the planter’s hanging chain. An “S” or other swivel attachment is best since it allows the container to move freely in the wind.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Tree Hanging Step 3
Rest the tubing on the top of the limb, balancing it evenly. Draw down the loose end of the hanger cord and affix it to the planter.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Tree Hanging Step 4
The completed hanging planter installation allows the basket to move freely within the tubing sheath without damaging the tree limb’s sensitive bark.
Photo Credit: ©2000 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
