Hostas are a favorite perennial for shade areas. They are easy to grow and maintain and offer a variety of leaf colors and variegations.
'Chantilly Lace', USDA Zones 4-9, has a thin, white edge around deep green leaves.
'Ground Master', USDA Zones 4-9, has smaller, strikingly variegated blue-green leaves with a white trim.
'Minuteman', USDA Zones 4-9, is also variegated with a broad white edge around green leaves.
'Seersucker', USDA Zones 3-9, has large, glossy, deep green foliage that is ribbed.
'Gold Standard', USDA Zones 4-9, has yellow tone foliage and tolerates full sun.
'Honeybells', USDA Zones 4-9, displays tall clusters of fragrant, white flowers.
'Thumbnail', USDA Zones 3-8, is a smaller variety, reaching only six inches in height.
'Sum and Substance', USDA Zones 3-8, grows to three feet tall.
'Francis Williams' reaches three feet tall and has yellow margins on its leaves.
'Halcyon' adds a bold contrast with blue-green leaves.
'Lemon Lime' grows in neat, short mounds and has light green leaves. Annuals add color throughout the season:
Begonias
Pansies
Wishbone flower
Browallia
Impatiens
Coleus Ferns are a good choice for adding texture and color to your shade garden. Ferns are perennial, but some are deciduous. Be sure to select plants that are hardy for your zone.
To amend your soil:
Work peat moss into the top three or four inches of soil.
If working under a large tree, be careful not to damage the tree's feeder roots. These roots are in the top foot of soil and absorb nutrients and water for the tree.
Add only a couple of inches of soil to the area if needed. Too much soil can actually smother the roots.
Once your soil is ready, place plants in the garden according to their location in your sketch. Make any adjustments, and then put the transplants in the ground. Be sure to plant them at the same depth they were growing in their containers.
Give your new plants a boost by watering them with a water-soluble fertilizer. A hose-end applicator covers a lot of ground quickly. Apply it at the rate recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to use a different applicator for fertilizer and herbicides; label them to avoid confusion.
Add a layer of mulch for a finishing touch to help retain moisture and discourage weeds. Check periodically for pests; shade gardens often attract slugs, but they can be controlled with bait and traps. Keep your shade garden moist by applying at least an inch of water each week.
Soil Testing
To determine how to amend your soil, have your soil analyzed by a soil testing laboratory. If you have a small area, you can mix a composite sampling from three different areas in the bed. If you have a larger area, you'll want to send several individual samples placed in individual bags.
To obtain a sample:
Brush aside debris or mulch from the surface.
Dig down six inches and place about a pint of soil in a plastic bag.
Keep the soil from drying out to obtain accurate results. Many land-grant universities have a soil testing laboratory, and you can obtain cost and mailing information from your county extension office or online at the university's website. When you send the sample, be sure to tell the lab what you intend to plant and what was previously growing there.
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