Woodland Shade Gardens – Before and After

woodland shade garden ideas
woodland shade garden ideas

Woodland Shade Gardens
Before and After Images

After picture shade garden

Most of this property was full sun and being a shade loving gardener I had to find a place for a woodland shade garden. There was a thick patch of woods with trees being strangled by poison ivy vines, bittersweet vines and grape vines. The ground was covered with weeds and small trees that were removed along with the vines. I am not a fan of Pachysandra so I removed it as well.

The soil was fertile from the years of falling leaves and I added yards of compost to amend the soil.
 
Every time I put a shovel in the ground a rock came out. I decided that a curved rock wall would be a nice addition for the garden and to define a path through the garden.
 

Deep shade can be a problem so I took out unnecessary white pine trees and trimmed lower branches of the maple and oak trees. This allowed some brightness to come through and help the plants thrive.

I added a wide variety of shade perennials, annuals, and bulbs Next year as these grow and fill out I will and some flowering shrubs to add to the understory of trees.

I have included before and after photos for your enjoyment however, I had already cleared the area so you will not be able to see the tangled mess of vines when I began.

Next year I will add plants and mulch. Enjoy!

 

Before

After

perennial gardens - woodland shade garden

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woodland shade gardens

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Gallery

Shade Plant List

Plants for Dry Soil

Grass Japanese anemones
Astrantia
Euphorbia amygdaloides var.
Fatsia japonica
Hellebore
Hydrangea macrophylla
Ivy
Ivy-leafed cyclamen
Hostas
Lily Turg (Liriope spicata)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'
Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)
Vinca Minor
Spotted Dead Nettle
Foam Flower - Coral Bells
Lental Rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Barrenwort
Japanese Rose

Plants for Wet Soil

Iris
Primrose
Pagoda Dogwood
American Hornbeam
Sweetbay Magnolia
Eastern Hemlock Strawberry-bush
Spicebush
Rosebay Rhododendron
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Maidenhair Fern
Goat's-beard
Wild Ginger
Bleeding Heart
Ostrich Fern
Lady Fern
Sensitive Fern
Jacob's Ladder
Soloman Seal
False Soloman Seal
Primrose
Showy Trillium

Creeping Phlox

Additional Information:

Bill Gassett has great advice on how to stop deer from eating your plants. There is nothing worse when trying to sell your home only to find deer have destroyed your curb appeal!

Paul Sian has some great tips on how to create a better landscape for your new home. Staging your home is just as important as staging your landscape when selling. Learn about different soil types and how trees and shrubs can damage your home.

Sharon Paxson has some great ideas for landscaping a small property. This can be challenging to many but Sharon has some great ideas on going upwards with vines to help create a beautiful outdoor living space,

Kevin Vitali has written a great article on How to Stage your Outdoor Living Areas. Don’t ignore your decks and patios. These areas expand your living space and can really help in the sale of your home.

For more ideas on shade gardening visit Shade Gardens that Inspire!

 

Monthy Garden To-do List


Real estate and garden information was provided by Eileen Anderson, recognized leader in her field.

If you are looking to hire a top realtor, I can be reached via email at Eileen@eileenandersonrealtor.com or by phone at 860-966-2112.

I am licensed for residential real estate sales in the state of Connecticut including but not limited to the following CT towns: Avon, Bloomfield, Burlington, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, East Granby, Hartland, Hartford, Suffield, Windsor, New Hartford, North Granby, Farmington, Winchester, Newington, Litchfield, Simsbury, Suffield and West Hartford, CT.