6 Simple Ways to Beautify Your Shade Garden

Liven up a dull shade garden by adding colorful potted plants, a cozy seating area, and charming décor. Check out these home garden ideas for inspiration.

If you want to grow food, this lists vegetables that do well with some shade.

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How to Transform Your Shade Garden

Whether you have a large building casting shade on your garden or some big, old trees, creating a beautiful garden in shade comes with challenges.

Yet some of the most beautiful gardens I have visited have deep or dappled shade.

So why are some shade gardens bland while others are beautiful?

I started going through my garden photo collection to see if I could crack the code.

It looks like the same tricks that make a sun garden interesting work in the shade as well: strong and contrasting colors, lots of textures, and unexpected, quirky garden art.

1Make it Inviting

Just because it’s shady, it doesn’t have to be creepy!

A shady corner of the garden can be the best place to sit and relax, out of the hot sun. Define a sitting area with edging and add patio furniture for afternoon drinks. Or, if you prefer more serious relaxation, a hammock may be just what you need.

Also look at that ground. In the photo (above), they have defined the area with gravel and mulch. Low-growing shade-loving plants also surround the area.

2Choose Colorful Plants

We tend to think of hostas and ferns for shade gardens but there are many bright and boldly-colored flowering annuals and perennials to choose from as well.

These flowering plants (listed below) enjoy part-shade (4 to 6 hours of direct sun each day—and it does not have to be continuous) and consistent moisture. If you buy your plants already in bloom, they will do fine with even lower light.

If your soil tends to be dry, consider adding a drip irrigation system (here’s a helpful guide).

I recommend starting all the plants in containers with good potting mix so you can move them around until you find their preferred growing spot.

If the soil is not great, perhaps they’ll stay in containers forever.

Whenever choosing plants, be sure they are suitable for your growing zone and conditions.

Annuals

• Begonia
• Coleus
• Fuchsia
• Impatiens
• Petunia
• Salvia
• Torenia

Perennials

• Astilbe (USDA zone 4-8)
• Cransebill Geranium (USDA zones 3-9)
• False Solomon’s Seal (USDA zones 4-9)
• Foxgloves (USDA zones 3-8)
• Ligularia (USDA zones 4-8)

3Pick Colorful Furnishings

In addition to flowering plants, consider using colorful planters to provide bursts of color against the dark backdrop of the shade garden.

You could pick a color theme like the blue you see here, which stands out nicely in the garden, and repeat it, or, chose a variety of colors for a more eclectic look.

4Go Vertical

Vertical gardening—where you add tall items—is an instant fix to fill in a space.

This DIY staircase plant stand is one idea:

Painted wooden chairs, garden art ladders, and totems also work.

You could also display a hanging planter on a shepherd’s hook with trailing vines and flowers.

5Double the Light

One of the prettiest ways to lighten up a dark garden corner is to add mirrors.

While you should never place garden mirrors in bird flight paths or directly facing the sun, they can look enchanting tucked away on a back fence. There are more tips for safely using mirrors in a garden here.

This optical illusion mirror is perfect for adding some mystery and interest.

Want to kick it up a notch? Add some solar lamps to light up the evening garden as well. But go easy—nighttime creatures need darkness. This discusses lights that are gentle for nocturnal animals.

6Choose Bold Garden Art

Something as simple as this brightly-colored garden art ball is all you need to create a focal point amongst the shade garden plants.

Choose a color like this yellow ball, which stands out nicely in the garden. Or make your own using these instructions.

Good-bye, bland garden. Now you’ve got it made in the shade.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛