Morning sun and afternoon shade, such as those found on the east side of the building, are ideal for rhododendrons, camellias, and other flowering shade shrubs.
Olympic athlete
This week is a good week to plan and dream about your garden. Indoor and outdoor spring ideas will soon grow at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show, January 26-29 at the Tacoma Dome.
On January 28-29, I will be giving talks on “Gardening on the Dark Side” and “Creative Container Gardening.” Take home a few tips from our upcoming garden seminar at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show.
shade garden tips
Know the amount of shade and shade. Morning sun and afternoon shade, such as those found on the east side of the building, are ideal for rhododendrons, camellias, and other flowering shade shrubs.
For deep shade, such as on the north side of buildings or under large trees, use shrubs with large leaves such as Fastia japonica and Acuba.
Shade-loving groundcovers like ajuga and vinca can help keep weeds and erosion in check if you have the space. Groundcovers can eat up real estate.
Plants that grow in the shade need less fertilizer because the lack of light slows their growth rate.
Many shade-tolerant plants originate from woodlands and forests. That means they prefer organic-rich soil made from falling forest debris. Add leaf mold or compost and mulch with bark chips to keep them happy.
Best bloomers for shade flower gardens: impatiens, begonias, lobelias, coleus.
Creative Container Gardening Tips
The tallest plants do not have to be placed in the middle of the container. If he only sees the planted pot from one angle, put the tallest plant in the back and the trailer in front.
Mix perennials such as hellebore with winter pansies and primroses. This makes winter colors very much appreciated on porches and patios.
Those with drainage holes can be used to hold plants. You can fill an old wheelbarrow with herbs and roll the wheels to get some sun, or move them closer to your patio for easy harvesting when cooking outdoors. There are many ideas for recycling containers such as metal tool boxes, wooden crates and more.
Even plastic and lightweight foam can be spray painted onto weathered pots.
Broken clay pots can be recycled into a stake tower and filled with sedum or succulents.
See Marianne at the Tacoma Home & Garden Show
Gardening expert Marianne Binetti will speak at the Tacoma Home and Garden Show on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29 at the Tacoma Dome. Visit the website for ticket discounts and more information.
3 p.m. Saturday — Shade gardening: Marianne offers tips on slug control, watering, shade-loving perennials, native plants and more.
Sunday at 1:00 PM — Creative Container Gardens: Check out some great examples of unusual containers and other tips and tricks that celebrate dirt cheap gardening and creative container gardens.
Marianne Binetti has a degree in Horticulture from Washington State University and is the author of 10 books on gardening. Contact her at binettigarden.com.