The north side of the house, or as it is known as the south in the southern hemisphere, is often considered a problem area due to the lack of direct sunlight. Again, it’s possible to create a spectacular border simply by choosing shade-loving plants.

Most forest plants will grow there, for example.

So why do we need dry shade for shade gardens? Dry and shade netting terrain is one of the toughest challenges because most shade-loving plants are woodland plants that grow well in moist, fiber-rich soil. Soils can be improved by adding plenty of well-rotted organic material because leaf mold is a natural material to use.

How do we create a shadow?

Sometimes this can be a problem if you don’t have shade in the garden if you want to grow plants like hellebore that don’t like too much sun. Try building a wooden or metal frame over which you can stretch the shade netting, creating a nice dappled shade. These designs may not look elegant, but they are perfect for their purpose. They are also useful for temporary placement of shade-loving plants until the bushes or trees become large enough to provide natural shade.

So how do you reduce shade in a shade garden?

You can increase the amount of light that reaches plants under trees by removing some branches, especially the lower ones. Alternatively, you can thin out the branches to allow more points of light to reach the ground.

If the trees are listed, you may need to obtain permission before removing any branches. In basements and other dark patios, the amount of light can be increased by painting the walls white to reflect the light. These plants seem to do quite well when cared for properly, however shade netting some known diseases associated with high humidity can cause some problems, so over watering should be avoided at all costs.

Various iris root rots and powdery mildew take advantage of the moisture levels in these shaded areas, and for some reason the plant material that grows so well here can also be susceptible to a large influx of such diseases, if they are present. It is important, and essential, to maintain a good supply of chemical or organic fungicides to protect your plants from decay.