You can garden in shade–even under a tree!

by Connie Oswald Stofko

Do you struggle with shade? Find out how these gardeners created lush shade gardens–directly under large trees!

The trick, the gardeners said, is using good soil with lots of compost.

Note: Don’t pile soil up against the tree trunk and don’t create mulch volcanoes. See more here.

“Make sure the soil is real good,” said Linda Monaco. She and her husband Chris live in Lackawanna and shared their landscape on Open Gardens last month.

“In the fall, I go crazy with compost,” Linda said. She uses compost from the huge compost pile she has at the back of her yard. In the winter, she digs holes in the garden, drops in her food scraps and coffee grounds, and covers the scraps well with dirt. In the spring she buys even more compost.

The compost is important because not many plants like dry shade, Linda said. The compost helps the soil retain moisture.

Marie and Jerry Wysocki of Hamburg, who also shared their landscape on Open Gardens, have created a raised bed full of plants under a large ash tree.

“We built that up over the years,” Jerry said. They also use compost they make themselves.

The plants are mostly perennials, including hostas, ferns, astilbe, bleeding hearts and Solomon’s seal.

By the way, the ash tree is doing well because the Wysockis have been treating it to prevent infestation by the emerald ash borer.

Their front yard has another garden under a tree– a mature magnolia. Shade-loving plants, along with garden ornaments, are nestled under the branches, while plants that can tolerate more sun are planted on the periphery.

A note on the odd weather we have had this year: The magnolia was ready to bloom in spring, but then there was a frost, Jerry said. The tree bloomed in July instead.

See more tips here for gardening in shade.