Every person can have a personal Garden of Eden. That would be a place to rest, spend time taking care of flowers, or simply enjoying the sun. However, unused garden space can be made useful even if there is a big tree or a building next to it – that is, there are ways of growing food even in places you could never imagine seeing them. Some plants, actually, love shade, so there is no need to curse the neighbour, but rather use what you have.
If you have decided to spruce up your garden and make it more lively, but cannot seem to think of a way what to grow in it because it is a bit shady, take a look at these tips on growing a shade garden and wait for the summer (and autumn) to come with ripe crops ready to jump into your plate.
Find the Right Herbs that Grow in Shade
Even though it might sound odd, some plants actually do not like direct sun exposure. There are plants which grow in even the most extreme conditions on Earth, with low temperature and almost no sunlight. These plants have developed the so called shade tolerance – the ability to tolerate even the lowest light levels. They have adjusted so much to the weather conditions that they can get dry due to too much sunlight, so you can use them in your shady garden. These plants include the following: bleeding-heart, forget-me-not, foxglove, violets, fuchsia (see many more on Gardening Know How).
- Salad greens love shade, which is why you can grow them in your garden and use them in your plate afterwards. These include lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, arugula, kale, etc.
- Peas and beans are also good for shady gardens, because they can grow good crops even when they get around four or five hours of sun per day. However, it would be best to try dwarf varieties at first, rather than pole varieties.
- Root vegetables can grow in an eco-friendly garden with not that much sun exposure. Due to their root system which grows deep into the ground, they get enough nutrients from the soil. You just have to make sure to give them enough water and minerals. Root plants include potato, carrot, radish, turnip, and beet.
How to Maintain a Shade Garden
Shade gardens do not demand much work. If their leaves fall in the autumn, you might as well leave them there, because they will integrate perfectly. They actually provide the plants with natural mulch which contains enough ingredients which enrich the soil AND help fighting weeds at the same time. Heavy root plants will, however, have to be watered regularly, especially during drought periods.
Make Your Own Shade
If you happen to love these plants anyway, and you would like to protect them from direct sun exposure or the elements, you can even try to make your own shade. Many plants can be killed by a strong rain, not to mention hale and storm. Their fragile bodies can easily be beaten by the elements, so it would be best to provide them with a waterproof shade, for example. If you happen to live in Sydney, ask around for professionals who offer the best waterproof shade sail prices and protect your beautiful shade-loving garden from too much sunlight and rain by making an eco-friendly hothouse.
As you can see, there is no place on Earth that cannot be adjusted to our needs. The truth of these words just tells us that if we want to make something happen, we will. Even if there are unimaginable conditions – we can make them work.