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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... Mail Tribune 100, Feb. 9, 1916 ... Oregon and Alaska lift suspension of troubled insurance carrier Moda ... Oregon refuge occupier releases videos mocking FBI ... Options abound for gardens in shady spots Comment By Melissa Erickson More Content Now MailTribune.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 7:25 AM By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 7:25 AM » Social News If your yard is covered in shadow for some or most of the day, gardening can be a challenge. Having shade doesn’t equal no possibility of a garden, though. With a little research and creativity, shade gardens can be refreshing, cools spots of beauty on a hot summer day. “Don’t despair. There are many garden plants that can not only survive, but thrive in the shade,” said Diane Blazek, executive director of the National Garden Bureau. “Shade gardens as we once knew them might have been boring, but today’s shade gardens are anything but,” said Jeanine Standard, spokeswoman for plant brand Proven Winners. “Now there are many types of colorful foliage plants as well as flowering varieties that work in both the sun or the shade, making everything easier on new gardeners, as well as those with heavy shade.” Options Plenty of options exist, from eye-catching, flowering annuals to hardy perennials, bulbs and even some edibles, which tolerate or even do well in the shade, Blazek said. Annuals like begonias, coleus, impatiens, lobelia, sweet potato vine and viola all thrive in shady conditions. For perennials, the list includes columbine, bleeding heart, astilbe, foxglove, coral bells and shade favorite hosta. Leafy greens like arugula, kale, lettuce, chard and spinach can all tolerate shade, as do peas, carrots, beets and radishes. Proven Winners has added made-in-the-shade plants this year, including the showy Pegasus Begonia with almost black foliage and silver-white highlights, and the bright red, white and green Artful Caladium. How much shade do you have? The first step in creating a shade garden is determining how much sunlight your garden space receives and at what time of day. This will determine what type of plants will grow best there, Blazek said. “Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between heavy shade and partial shade, and the plants chosen for each need to have this taken into consideration, too,” Standard said. A fine line differentiates partial sun and partial shade. Partial sun is usually defined as four to six hours of sun a day, while partial shade is less sun than that. The best way to determine sun and shade is to draw a simple garden diagram on a day when you have time to visit the garden multiple times from morning to afternoon, recording which parts are in sun and which are in shade. Water and color Just because your garden is shady doesn’t mean you won’t need to water as often, Blazek said. Oftentimes, those trees can suck up available moisture, leaving your color plants thirsty. “Gardeners do need to consider water issues when gardening in the shade. For example, planting under a thirsty tree such as a maple can make in-ground plantings difficult. Consider large containers of shade-loving plants if this is the case,” Standard said. Shade and water are also an ideal combination for snails, slugs and downy mildew, so you’ll have to be on the lookout for these so they don’t ruin all your hard work. When designing a shade garden, think about color. “To brighten shady areas use light-colored flowers such as white, light pink or palest blues. Dark colors tend to get lost in shady areas,” Blazek said. “Chartreuse plants are also a wonderful way to brighten up dark spots in the garden,” Standard added. By Melissa Erickson More Content Now MailTribune.com By Melissa Erickson More Content Now Posted May. 12, 2015 at 7:25 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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