Dry Shade Done Simply

Streamlining your plant palette and layering your design can transform an area of extreme root competition

Is it possible to have a great garden in the least hospitable conditions imaginable ? Many would say no . That was the challenge a pair of homeowners on Bainbridge Island , Washington , gave to me and my team : Build a sensational garden at the base of an established wood of maple , cedar , and true fir . As a designer , I recollect when I first saw the site , “ Oh no — the dreaded wry shade . ” But I also knew it provided a unequaled backdrop for what could be a gorgeous blank space . Through thoughtful cooking of the planting areas , simplification of the industrial plant palette , and a focus on layer , we turned what could have been a nightmare into a lovely garden , against all odds .

The Plan: Tucked away under a forest

What once was a barren understory has become a fun , vibrant garden nestled at the root of a mature timber .

B.New front paseo

C.Partially shaded rear garden

E.Seating area

Make the planting environment a bit more hospitable

The star sign first appearance was the first challenge . The only “ garden ” was a bunch of randomly set vine maples ( Acer circinatum , Zones 5–8 ) flank the walkway to the home ’s beautiful wood and methamphetamine hydrochloride porch . The path itself was just a serial of stepping stones in barque that head straight for the door . We wanted to provide an interesting journey , with firmer footing , lighting , and exuberant planting , but first we had to convince the owners to let us remove several of the old maples . We require to keep thing shady , so the question became “ What stays , and what go ? ”

Many of the tree had been get out to their own growth pattern for many year and were a mess of crossing shorts and limb . choose carefully , we thinned out those with the regretful bent trunk and forged a balance between the maples that remained and the big firs ( Pseudotsuga menziesii , Zones 4–6 ) and cedar tree ( genus Thuja plicata , Zones 5–8 ) that shared the space . This allow for us with way to instal a generous walkway and flank it with slimly raised planting beds that would still be in dappled wraith but would give new plants a little less root competitor . A bonus was the wonderful contrast make between the wispy vine maples and the taller Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’ hardy , solid tree trunk .

The redesigned concrete walkway shift between the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , creating planting air hole along the elbow room . Lights now illuminate the irregular step patterns and enhance the overall flavor of the distance , but side paths and Tree remain unlit to maintain the common sense of walk through the woods .

Simplify the plant palette: Choose texture over color

The plants in this garden were select with several prerequisite in mind ( include active domestic dog play ) , but we essentially opted for textures over flowers . In fact , the plant palette is mostly an array of light-colored greens . In making survival of the fittest , we looked for a diverseness of leaf figure , but mostly a multifariousness in textures . Many plants were cultivars of Northwestern indigen that are well adapted to liveliness in a root - packed , acidic environment . These include several types of azaleas and rhododendron ( Rhododendronspp . and cvs . , Zones 2–9 ) . grain never quits , so when the conditions limit the options , we like to verify that the plant selected look good irrespective of the season . We always overwork textural contrasts too , by pairing bold leaves with shadowy single .

We also used many different priming coat covers throughout the front garden for a duad of reasons . First , ground concealment tend to be shallow stock-still , and therefore ascendent contest was less likely to be an issuance . Second , we wanted to take vantage of every possible inch of suited planting distance . The selections we end up with — such as Crimson Fans mukdenia and baby tears ( Soleirolia soleirolii , Zones 8–11)—fill every possible planting crack and crevice , even in between the march sway .

The back of the holding is a unlike garden altogether . Though still shaded by large conifers ( with large root systems ) , it has more enthusiasm due to the big openness of the site . The Japanese maple ( Acer palmatumand cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) and conifer that get here are surrounded by exuberant perennial that , again , can take drier , fond shade conditions . The plants here still have telling texture , but a few — such as Joe Pye weed ( Eutrochium purpureum , Zones 4–9 ) and meadow rue ( Thalictrumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–7)—may have telling blossom too .

A playfulness , curving concrete paseo creviced with black Mexican beach pebble connects an existing pathway with the waterside sitting area . To hit that place , the track wind up from an area of partial shade back to an area of full shade within a uncompromising grove of mature pines , spruce , and Nipponese maples . Here , many of the plants are finely - textured , such as ok - bladed sinister mondo grass ( Ophiopogon planiscapus‘Nigrescens ’ , zone 6–9 ) , flossy alpine H2O fern ( Blechnum penna - marina , Zones 6–9 ) , and Japanese forest dope ( Hakonechloa macra‘Aureola ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . These select flora soften the transition between the concrete walk and the garden .

Rely on layers to keep things in scale

Much of the garden ’s appeal come up from the multilayered approach to the planting . matured evergreens in both the front and back of the belongings mainstay the garden and supply potent seasonal interest under the Northwest ’s grey-headed skies . Much of this garden is planted as an understory to the environ trees , and the scale is based around the size of the business firm and the palisade forest . We felt it would be hard to bring the large trees down into the planting because of their bold sizing . Only the trunk could actually be incorporated , acting more like sculptured focal points . The perpendicular lines of large firs and the vine maples play off the verticals of the business firm with pool plants at their base . The tiered planting starts with the short pants as the back stratum . The other layers within each bed mimic what you would find in a rude wooded timber , with taller shrubs at the base of the trunks , then midsize perennial , and ultimately pussyfoot mosses and ground covers at the lowest planting floor .

In the front entry it was especially crucial to use layering within the scale of measurement place by the low - profile , one - story home . The garden ’s chore here was n’t necessarily to marry the tops of the tree with the manse , but to cater enough multilayered interest to highlight the house and the paseo to the front door while incorporating those massive trunk as a layer all their own . The large paseo ( work up to be in exfoliation with the large trunks ) keeps you walk comfortably between the larger plants and trees in the garden to the front door . It ’s the layers within this garden that are the osseous tissue and that make this space appealing — despite its challenging conditions — in all four seasons .

Susan Calhoun is the owner of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .

Photos , except where note : Joshua McCullough

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From bleak and inhospitable to lush and welcoming.This transformation started at the front entry, where select trees were removed to make room for a wider walkway and elevated plant beds.Photos (above and below): courtesy of Susan Calhoun

Before

Sometimes removing plants is necessary.Taking out just one gangly vine maple made space for a planting pocket filled with an array of lush perennials and even a Japanese maple and a few dwarf shrubs.

No flowers, but plenty of interest.This area of the property gets only partial shade, limiting the plant options. The plants selected are essentially a master class in textural contrasts. Although not one bloom can be seen, the bed is still eye-catching.

Ground covers and huggers play an important role.Every possible nook and cranny is filled with plants, since suitable planting spots are hard to come by in this garden. Here, mukdenia and baby’s tears fill in underneath a larger conifer.

A bed filled with contrasts is always compelling.The soft textures of the bamboo, ferns, and Japanese maple in this spot truly jump out at you when paired against the big bold leaves of umbrella plant (Darmera peltata, Zones 5–7) and some larger hostas. This is especially surprising since all the key players are simply green.

A bit more light, but just as many roots.Layers of texture—from the fine, billowy softness of Japanese forest grass to the bold denseness of bergenia (Bergeniaspp. and cvs., Zones 3–8) provide contrast to the concrete hardscaping in the back garden.