My shady yard, help with ideas, please?
Jules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years ago
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Jules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Newbie needs help with Shady front yard landscaping, please :)
Comments (6)This isn't a 'shady' area. It is an area that gets decent sun. Shade plants can often handle an eastern exposure, but not always. Start by deciding what you would like it to look like *in the winter*. Deciduous shrubs look like dead sticks. So it is usual to plant shrubs that have some sort of color during the winter. Instead of the hydrangea, a blue colored conifer like a blue juniper would provide that color all year, then a shorter, flowering shrub could be planted in front. There are also gold conifers. BTW, the shrubs on the left are probably some sort of flowering shrub. I'd get them ID'ed before yanking them out. A lot of things are looking unusually ratty after this winter, and they may just need a bit of time and some pruning to look decent....See Moreideas welcome for my bare, shady front
Comments (9)Thanks for the ideas, FLgardenmom. I checked the area I haven't been into to tidy up, but no coonties there. I'll be on the lookout for the others you suggested. Never thought about those pink gingers - have to watch the box stores for those on sale. My plant buying rule is...cheap, and a minimum of two plants in the pot that can be divided immediately. Right now I'm pinching and adding to the single coleus plants in some planters to fill them out. Caladiums are one that often have a couple of plants in one pot, and I'm definitely on the lookout for more, even if the common ones. Lucky you on the 12 broms. Great score! I so get the cheap thing, lol. I just don't want the yard to have this large, very bare area. The more clean-up I do, the more bare areas I uncover. Not good. I did find a second palm, right next to the original one. It's kinda like a windmill palm. Not sure what it is. I think one of these days, when I feel strong, I'll try and dig up the young one, pot it up, if successfully dug, and see what happens. There is also a potted plant in the yard that looks rather like some type of large version of the peace lily. Some type of aroid, I think. It's got a youngun coming up in the pot, as well as two large ones. Prime for a raid and division, ha. Feet up right now, just resting the aching body. I must have re-potted/potted up 40 or so plants today. Tired! Randy Another thing I do, which seems a bit naughty, is divide and replant some of the existing plants here, putting the original plant back into the garden, and potting up the division for myself, for future enjoyment. Those potted up plants go where they will succeed - same conditions in the yard as the original plant....See MoreHelp with creating privacy and fixing up shady side yard
Comments (1)The groundcover you choose will depend on where you are and your requirements. If you have a mulched path through the side yard, then your options open a little to include a groundcover not especially tolerant of being walked on. If you have no mulched path, you'd need a more durable groundcover. It should be low whatever it is. The Hostas at the house are fine. Make the bed for them deeper and plant/increase them such that they are less spotty. Instead of with a fence, you could screen with a tallish hedge or an extended trellis of vine. Either will require light in order to grow well, and space (especially the hedge.) The trees then present a problem because they've been allowed to grow with those low limbs, which will be in the way and will add shade. No doubt, the tree would have had vastly better form had these been removed when young. We can't see the tree's head so no opinion on the form if these were removed now. But since it's the side yard, it's probably not too critical. Too, your neighbor's tree has low branches/limbs hanging over the property line and these will add more shade. You have the right to remove these back to the property line, whether your neighbor agrees with it or not, as he cannot control your property by placing things in it. Most people would be polite and inform him of their desire to remove the limbs and give him the opportunity to do it himself, if he wished. You'll need the light in order to succeed with your project. If you don't have it, new plantings will likely just eke by, looking weak and thin....See Moreplease help with front yard landscape ideas
Comments (1)These were old pic taken from when I first moved in around 2 years ago. I will post new pics with the work I have completed and unhappy with....See MoreJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
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9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoJules (5a S.E. VT.)
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Jules (5a S.E. VT.)Original Author