Though most of us love sunshine a lot, it may happen so that your outdoor space has more shade than sun. Still, that’s not an issue at all as even a shady spot can be brightened up, and you may infuse it with interest and even intrigue without any sunlight. Here are some tips to style a shady garden and some pics that will show you good examples.
Use Plants That Love Shade
Prefer plants that are suitable for your shady garden and that will thrive in a shady environment. Tree ferns are a favorite for adding height and drama in a shade garden with their impressive fronds and prehistoric-looking trunks. Silver foliage like Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ and Lamium ‘White Nancy’ will lighten a shade garden planting scheme. While mostly grown for their beautiful foliage and shade-loving tendencies, hostas bloom with stalks that grow well above the foliage. Brunnera can have dark green heart-shaped leaves, other varieties have variegated foliage. Lenten roses have gorgeous leather-like evergreen leaves. Bleeding hearts grow beautiful heart-shaped flowers that dangle and look quite elegant. The foliage is beautiful as well and adds a lot of texture to shade gardens. Virginia Bluebells have trumpet-like flowers and come in shades of blue. And it is a hummingbird favorite, so you will get your garden enlivened. Epimedium (barrenwort) is another shade-loving perennial that has beautiful foliage and the prettiest dainty flowers in shades of yellow, pink, purple, orange, red, and white. There are lots of different varieties of azaleas to choose from that can have variegated or non-variegated foliage, and the blooms come in red, white, pink, purple, peach, and orange. Rhododendrons are a gorgeous larger growing shrub that is evergreen and produces beautiful white, pink, or purple flowers in spring. Oakleaf hydrangeas grow pretty panicle white flowers in late summer that turns a pinkish purple hue in fall.
a beautiful and romantic shady garden with lot sof greenery, bushes, trees, a vase with leaves is a cool and lovely space to be in
a beautiful and textural shady garden with a wooden shed for gardening, a wooden bench, some greenery, bold foliage and shrubs
a beautiful entrance shady garden with dark and pale foliage, a tile path, trees and bold purple blooms is adorable
a beautiful shady garden with a grene lawn, greenery, shrubs, a wooden gazebo, a bold fall tree, a stone path is wow
a beautiful shady garden with a rock and pebble path, greenery, oversized foliage, trees and bushes plus some adorable fuchsia and purple blooms for an accent
a beautiful shady garden with greenery, bold foliage, trees, a rock path with moss in between is a very romantic space
a bold garden with a green lawn, greenery, pink and white blooms, a blooming tree, a bench and a fountain is wow
a bold shady garden with greenery, foliage, bright blooms, a green lawn looks magical and fairy-tale inspired
a cozy shade garden with a rock garden path, shrubs and greenery, bold foliage and some small blooms looks a bit wild
a cozy shady garden nook with various greenery and bold blooms, a fountain, a tree, blooming bushes is a lovely space
Consider Your Choice Of Materials
Although plants are one of the main considerations of any garden. It’s also important to think about your choice of furniture and materials used in shade-laden areas. These areas can be more prone to getting affected by the elements – dampness, algae, or conversely drying out, if under a tree for example. It’s not just plants that should be chosen based on their aspect. Consider quality and colors of materials too. Darker, weatherproof materials will take on the dinge and darkness better for a low maintenance garden, while lighter materials will definitely brighten things up, they’ll also show up more dirt.
a cozy shady garden with various types of bold greenery, some shrubs and a living wall is a very cool idea to accent your front yard or entrance
a dark garden with ferns and some greenery is a mystical space, ferns are perfect for shady spots, they feel well here
a dreamy shady garden with lots of trees, shrubs, blooms, a wooden arch as a trellis and a rock path is a unique space
a fab shady garden with greenery, blooms and small trees, a stone path and some vases is amazing
a gorgeous shady garden with greenery, trees, a rock and tile path, a wooden bench and a side table plus outdoor lamps
a large and gorgeous shade garden with a brick path, greenery and blooms, a bird bath, some trees, some garden furniture
a lovely shady garden with a rock path, some greenery, cacscading touches, bold purple blooms and some trees
a lovely shady nook with greenery, bold blooms and dark foliage in pots plus some green bowls and decor is a lovely idea for a side garden
a modern garden with wooden decks, some greenery, shrubs and trees plus a large planter with greenery is adorable
a pretty shade garden with lots of greenery, shrubs and a tree is amazing, it looks very natural and a rock garden path adds charm
Grow Your Plants Vertically
Choosing the right plants can help bring even the smallest urban gardens to life. As space is limited, it’s a good idea to choose plants that bring multiple elements to the setting such as structure and scent. Use trained fruit trees, like Espalier or Fan trained fruit trees such as apples and pears as they take up surprisingly little space growing against a wall, making them perfect small garden ideas. Or you could invest in a fragrant climber like Star jasmine, as it will quickly cover walls and fences and of course, it provides a heady scent to enjoy too. While a climbing hydrangea is a lovely addition to a more confined urban garden as it thrives in shady spots.
a pretty shade garden with some greenery, bold blooms, shrubs and trees plus a bird house is a lovely and cozy space
a refined shady garden with trees, greenery, potted greenery and baskets with shrubs, stone balls, a wooden dining set
a refined vintage shady garden with a living wall, some trees, shrubs and potted greenery, bold blooms and vintage urns and planters
a shade garden with greenery and bold blooms, a green lawn is a lovely space to enjoy, it looks beautiful and fresh
a shady garden nook with bold trees and bold shrubs, a rock and pebble landscape, a wooden chair and some bold foliage
a shady garden with trees, greenery, a gravel and rock path, a vase is a beautiful space, and white blooms refresh it a lot
a shady nook with greenery, trees and bold blooms, a stone lantern, some pebbles and rocks is amazing for your non-sunny plot
a shady side garden with trees, bushes, greenery, a rock and pebble path and some outdoor lamps is amazing
a shady tropical garden with a rock path, greenery, shrubs and even some small tropical trees is a cool space with a tropical feel
a side shady garden with lots of greenery, dark foliage, blooms, a wooden garden path feels like a mystical oasis
Add Colorful Blooms
Bring your own sunshine shades into your garden with colorful flower bed ideas that thrive in sunless areas. Begonia’s are a traditional flower that is sometimes seen as “boring”, but these do extremely well in containers and can perform well in shaded areas. Salvias are a perfect addition to a container garden. When in bloom the flowers are sought after by various pollinators and as they are perennial, they will bounce back year after year. Coleus may not grow as quickly but is a sure-fire way to add some color into your garden and help to fill pots.
a small and bold shady garden with greenery, bright blooms, shrubs, a green lawn, wooden chairs, rocks and a brick garden path
a small and cozy shady spot with greenery, a garden bed with greenery and blooms, a tree, a living wall and a blue bench with pillows
a small and laconic shady nook with a stone path, bold greenery and shrubs, some trees and a dark-stained bench is wow
a small and shady spot with greenery, shrubs, bright blooms, a rock path is a stunning idea for any garden
a small shade side garden with lots of greenery, a stone path and a large vase is a cool space to be in, it looks pretty and lovely
a small shady garden with a green lawn, a tree, various types of greenery and bold foliage is a fantastic idea
a small garden with various types of greenery, foliage and some blooms, a rock garden path and a bird bath is lovely
a small shady nook with greenery and bold foliage under the tree plus some large rocks and pebbles is amazing
a small shady plot with a tree, some blooming trees, greenery and bold blooms plus a green lawn is a cool idea
a small side garden with some greenery, blooms, trees and blooming shrubs is a lovely space that feels very cozy and welcoming
a small urban shady garden with greenery, bold foliage, shrubs and potted plants is a cool and welcoming space
a stylish shady garden with a green lawn, a garden bed with greenery and white blooms, trees is a cool space
a whimsical shade garden with greenery, bold blooms, shrubs, blooming trees and usual ones, a pebble path
such bold foliage and berries will make any space spectacular, and a shady nook will look gorgeous