Help with Selection

Hi all!

I have two Trees that provide a rather large amount of shade at there bases during the day. I have already cut boxes around the tree and am tryin to find something to put in them.

Any plant there would recieve sun from about 7am-830am and then again fron 430 pm on. is that enough light for a full sun plant? (i didnt think so, hence my question) im looking for some type of flowering plant, not ferns. or something similar to lavender. any suggestions?

Oh, my. You have a multitude of plants that you can choose from that requires shade. Around trees, however, could be a problem because of dryness. If you don't have a problem with watering under the tree plants, there is a list of flowering perennials and annuals that you can choose from.
http://www.backyardgardener.com/shade/index.html

click here please
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lazylandscaping/a/ shade_plants.htm
http://gardening.about.com/od/choosingperennialplants/ tp/ShadePerennials.htm

These are just a few sites that should be able to give you a jump start with shade gardening. Ferns and Hosta are nice and add that green texture that shade gardens are known for. But there are so many flowering plants, shrubs, perennials that add that punch of color that you are looking for.

In my case, my garden is new and I don't have enough shade to have a very good shade garden. I love the shade garden and wish I could have mine back. I've only now started placing shade loving plants in my garden this spring.

You can also check out the local wildflowers for shade as well. Another place you can go is your local wildflower extension. Or your local horticultural extension of the local university. Penn State has one here that I use; or your state horticultural group.

Post edited by: Sakura, at: 2008/05/19 08:12

thanks for the reply...

my problem is that here in NC the sun is so hot in the afternoon, im not sure what type of flower to use. I dont see being able to use a full shade plant because it will be getting sun, but mainly hot afternoon sun. and vice versa, i wont get enough sun for a full sun plant....

i will look at the links you posted. and again thanks for the reply

Hello 565Customz welcome to the forum. Nothing to add to Julie's excellent advice, just wanted to say that I hope you will like the forum

From the hours of sun that you give here, I'd say go for the full shade plants. The morning sun and the evening sun isn't as hot as the afternoon sun. Remember even shade lovers do like some sun, but not the intense heat of mid-day. This will also open your options to part-sun or dappled sun plants as well. Even many full sun plants will happily accept some mid-day shade. I think you have a lot of options as far as flowers for under your trees. Some will work, some won't, but I think you will be happy with what does work.

Just remember, you will need to water regularly because the trees will hog up all the moisture. In the world of nature, trees and large shrubs will take what water they need and the rest get to share what is left. I wouldn't water more than once a week or when the flowers are showing signs of stress. You can over water your trees and you have to be careful of that.

At this time of year, I think I would opt for the annual impatiens under the trees. They will take the sun you have and will add that punch of color you are looking for. At the end of the year, you simply pull them up when they die or let them to fertilize the bed. This way you have time to search out other plants that will do well in your spot, check them out, research them and prepare to plant a few early spring when it's a good time to plant roots.

I hope this helps.