A Shady Woodland Garden Survives Sweltering Summers

Right about this very hot time of year it seems the gardens that are holding up the best are the woodland shade gardens. Grassy areas out in full sun are browning and burning up if they are not getting a lot of water.

Nan and Gene McCabe have lived in their home about 25 years and have created a woodland shade garden where watering is not so urgent on these hot days. The tree canopy helps to shade and cool the ground plants in addition to her house which also helps reduce to the electric bill.

Nan said that she loves plants and her husband loves trees so needless to say she puts in plants that can grow in the deep shade! Nan has been known to say “The woods are perfectly imperfect.” Since both Nan and her husband are naturalists regarding their yard, I guess a few weeds are allowed to stay for a little while.

When first planting trees to create a shade garden it’s best to plant a variety of trees. There are many different White Oak, Red Oak and Maples to choose from, also Beech, Paw paw, Cucumber Magnolia, Tulip Tree, Mulberry, Hornbeam, Osage Orange, American Elm, Hackberry, Black Gum, Hickory, Sycamore, Catalpa, Pecan, are just a few tall trees that will give shade.

Then there are the under story trees like Dogwood, Redbud, Serviceberry, Viburnum, Wild Cherry, Hawthorn, Buckeye, Elderberry, Witch Hazel and Fringe Tree, just to name a few. Always diversify your plantings. Never plant all the same type of plant. Have you heard of Dutch Elm disease or the Emerald Ash borer?  Besides, it’s much more interesting to have a variety than all the same trees. 

In Nan’s garden, plants that are thriving in this heat are Hosta, Ostrich Fern, Wild Ginger, Brunnera, Coleus, Impatiens, Native Soloman’s Seal, Witch Hazel,  Boxwood and many more.  For Impatiens to do well, they do need a little sun each day whether it’s early morning or dappled sun in the afternoon.

In addition to the many under story trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals in Nan’s yard, she brightens up the woodland with many colorful and whimsical statues and ornaments. Birdbaths of several sizes and shapes, bird houses, benches and lounge chairs to sit and relax and enjoy the songs of the birds complete this woodland wonder. The front yard used to have one last patch of grass that did well only in springtime, so about two years ago Nan finally eliminated the grass and transplanted Ostrich fern, added three Witch hazel shrubs and other perennials on each side of the stone path.

The wood and mulch step path leads down to their boat dock which is about the only sunny area they have.

Nan is a St. Charles County Master Gardener and member of Jardin du Lac Garden Club.

A Few Words about Watering

I see sprinklers running every day and unfortunately all day long trying to keep the grass green. The best thing to do is water an area slowly and deeply early in the morning or later in the evening but not during the middle of the day. Use a low sprinkler or soaker hose and let it stay in an area for one half hour to one hour or more until the ground becomes saturated and starts to run off. Sprinklers that run for five minutes in one area are barely wetting the top one inch of soil.  The next day when temperatures reach 98 degrees the lawn is dry and suffering. Watering to the saturation point forces water to soak deeply into the soil and helps grass roots to grow downward to reach ground water and therefore tolerate drought periods for a longer time than grass with shallow roots. This is also true comparing native perennials with cultivated ones. Native plants will always have very deep roots which help them tolerate drought.

If you are interested in gardening, learning about gardening or joining a garden club, stop by the Community Association Clubhouse, the second Monday morning of each month and sit in on a meeting of the Jardin du Lac Garden Club.  Meetings start at 9:30 a.m.

If you have a beautifully landscaped yard or have unique garden ornaments that you are proud of and would like to see featured on Patch.com, or have any gardening questions, contact Peggy at Bahrmasel@msn.com.