When we are choosing varieties to plant, we should imagine what they will look like in the four seasons. And when we choose a plant, we can't just look at its current state, but we should imagine what it will look like in autumn and winter.
When we face different shade plants, we should treat them with different attitudes. We don’t need to think that there is no sunshine in this place. From the heart, you feel that this place is a bad place, so the flowers and plants in this place do not look good. But to be honest, every place has its own beauty.
How to distinguish shade in gardens?
In a garden, whether it is a front yard or a back yard, it is difficult to guarantee that every corner will receive sunlight. Unless it is a terrace, and there is no shelter around it. This is a full-sun balcony.
Shade gardens are divided into the following categories:
First, the ground without sunlight.
It means that the sun cannot be seen all day long, and even the scattered light is very weak. The reason for the non-sunny plot is that it is surrounded by surrounding buildings or shelters, which prevent sunlight from entering. In such an environment, it is more difficult to achieve flowering if hydrangeas are planted, and even if they bloom, only a few flowers will bloom.
Second, there are scattered light plots.
Such plots usually do not have direct light, and even if there is, it can only illuminate a small area. Some of the reasons for this phenomenon are that the leaves block most of the direct light, some is scattered light from above because the garden is relatively open, and some is scattered light from surrounding buildings and roads. If hydrangea is planted in scattered light plots, it can bloom normally.
Third, short-day plots (with sunshine in the morning)
A short-day plot refers to a period of time where there is light, generally divided into the morning and afternoon. In the morning, there is light before 10 a.m, when the temperature is not too high, and the light during this time is very precious. Compared with plots with scattered light, the sunlight conditions are much better, and there are more types of plants that can be planted.
Fourth, short-day plots (with sunshine in the afternoon)
This type of plot generally has several hours of direct light from 10 a.m. to dusk. In midsummer, this high temperature and strong light environment can easily lead to dead leaves, which can even have fatal effects on plants.
Shade Causes:
Shade is usually formed by buildings, trees, etc. that block sunlight, and the presence or absence of scattered light directly determines the darkness of the shady environment.
Shade-loving plants:
Primo wild rose
Primo wild rose likes light and is also shade-tolerant, so it is suitable for planting in the shade of the garden or in the garden where the light is not very good.
The beauty of is that it is rich in color, like bright red, deep purple, bright yellow, and bright yellow, and there are deep and shallow veins on the leaves. Even for the same variety, in different seasons, temperatures, and lighting conditions, its colour will be different, with very rich changes, deeply attracting attention.
Primo wild rose has good cold hardiness and can grow well at -4°F. Primo wild rose blooms from April to June every year.
Primo wild rose likes moist air. If the air is too dry, the edges of the leaves will scorch. When the air is dry, you can often spray the water on the surroundings, but do not spray directly on the leaves of the plants. Because it is easy to cause water accumulation at the centre of the leaves and cause the whole plant to rot.
Hosta
Hosta is a shade-loving plant that is extremely hardy and can be grown in the open in -4°F climates.
The hosta plant can actually sense our temperature. The biggest feature is that when the temperature drops, its leaves begin to turn yellow, which means that winter is coming soon. At this time, we must consider how to help plants survive the winter.
The hosta will generally wither in November. We only need to cut off the withered leaves with scissors. No special maintenance, fertilisation and watering are required, but they can be properly provide light (the metal raised garden beds can absorb most of the heat to supply the hosta roots) so as not to delay the recovery in the coming year.
Coleus
Coleus is a shade-tolerant plant, but it cannot be planted in places with excessive shade. It is also a sun-loving plant, but it is afraid of direct sunlight. Therefore, it must be properly shaded in late spring and summer, and it cannot be exposed to strong light, resulting in the leaves being burnt.
In addition, coleus is not bad in cold resistance, but the minimum temperature in winter should not be lower than 41°F because if it is too low, it will cause frostbite or slow growth. Its growth temperature is 59°F-77°F.
Limelight Hydrangea
Limelight Hydrangea likes shade. It is a short-day plant, prefers a semi-shade environment, and cannot accept too much strong sunlight. Usually, it should be placed in a shaded place or in an indoor astigmatic place. Due to its low demand for light, it should not be exposed to light for too long a day, and it is sufficient to receive 5 hours of light a day. Do not put it directly in the sun in summer; it is likely to burn the leaves.
The optimum temperature for hydrangea to grow is between 64.4°F and 82.4°F. At the same time, it also has good cold resistance. Different varieties have different cold resistance. Among them, Limelight Hydrangea has the strongest cold resistance. Hydrangeas grown in pots will be less hardy than those grown in garden beds, so it is best to move them indoors to a warmer environment.
Astilbe
An astilbe is a perennial herbaceous flower. Plants in the warm spring, bloom in the summer and fall, and in the winter, if the temperature is above 14°F, it will be fine to raise directly in the soil. If the temperature is relatively low, it is best to dig it out and save it for the next year to continue planting!
When Astilbe begins to bloom, it should be moved to a cool and ventilated place in time. If it is exposed to the sun for a long time, it will cause the flower buds to wither before they open, so it needs to be placed in a cool place to let it bloom.
After blooming, Astilbe can be enjoyed in a pot, or you can cut a few and put them in a bottle as a bouquet.
Without sunlight, the drainage performance will not be weakened.
Another reason why many people do not choose to plant in shade may be the fear that, without sunlight, the drainage properties of the soil will be impaired. If it is planted directly on the ground, the drainage performance will be relatively weak, because there is no sunlight to accelerate the loss of water, which can easily cause rotten roots and yellow leaves. But normally, gardeners will choose to use garden boxes to improve the drainage.
Summarize
Shade-loving plants in nature actually grow in forests. The fallen leaves will form natural humus. The natural humus are rich in organic nutrients, and the soil is fluffy. The natural soil can store a certain amount of water and discharge excess water, so this environment is quite excellent.We don't have to worry about what is suitable for planting in your garden. Some plants may not bloom a lot. We should go with the trend and understand the environment, climate, and light of the place where we live, and then go pick some plants that are suitable for you to grow, because only in this way can you get more beautiful scenery.
Of course, don't waste the shade in the corners and corners of the courtyard, make full use of it to create a mysterious garden. A house full of wonders in the world is a good home.
