Digging the Shades

Shade in a garden is the coolest place to be in the summertime. (Landscape Design & Image/©Bilowz Associates Inc.)

Think summer garden and one might envision a welcoming area to take it all in. One of the coolest places to relax - you guessed it; planting yourself under a few shade trees. If you want to lounge under a canopy of shade, achieving the well-designed, usable outdoor living space requires a finishing touch.

Let's fast-forward past the hardscape and go to an often underused or overlooked feature - it's the choice of plant materials. What you decide to plant and where you plant it often ties the space together. Simply put, your planting plan works out to be the winning combination. Why? Because it's literally the lifeblood of a design. So if and when you delve into those shade perennials, one little tip to remember. Give them a chance to mass together. See some examples below that showcase and highlight shade plantings massed in lovely textures and colors.

Mass your shade plantings to add texture and color.

This next maintenance and design tidbit is for the massive glut of mulch lovers. It ranks second in 'Americana' fascination with first going to a plush, green lawn. While mulch can be useful for weed control and containing moisture, specifically for new plantings, it's a must to give your perennials a chance to grow in harmony. It's what good design is really all about. So take the crash course. Mass the beauty of your plantings - in this case, the shade perennials. Then give them a fighting chance to do their thing and lose the addiction to mulch. Use it sparingly, it's a sure thing. You'll get happy plant results.

Perfect harmony of plant material = less or no mulch.

What shade plantings do you intend to place in your garden to make your summer landscape look alive?

© All Images – Property of Bilowz Associates Inc.          

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