Many gardens are bathed in sunlight, but not every area of a yard receives partial or full sun exposure. What's the solution? Shade gardens are areas of your yard that receive little sunlight and are ideal for growing plants that prefer less sun. Whether you already have a shady spot to nurture or want to transform an underutilized space, these ten shade garden ideas will inspire you.
10 Shade Garden Ideas That'll Look Great in Your Yard
If your yard doesn’t get a lot of sunshine during the day, a shade garden that will thrive in low light can be the perfect solution to your problems. Let's start the compilation of the 10 shade garden ideas to buoy up dark spaces and corners in your garden.
1. Install a Stunning Green Pathway
Garden paths may appear to be a simple feature, but they provide an excellent opportunity to flex your creative muscles and add a touch of arbitrariness to your shade garden. A series of stepping stones grouted with grass can immediately transform this shady backyard. Plus you'll be creating a very aesthetic spot for some great Insta pictures!
2. Plant and Embrace Shade-Loving Plants
Each plant out there has unique preferences for sun exposure, water, and even soil. Make sure that when designing your shade garden, you prioritize plants that succeed in shaded areas and are not high maintenance. Some excellent choices include ferns, hostas, lilies, bell flowers, foxgloves, and columbine plants.
3. Add Soft Lighting
If you have a garden path, illuminate it with a series of solar lights. Instead, hang some bistro lights or solar-powered lanterns from above. Lights in shaded areas will turn on earlier than lights in brighter areas, creating a serene atmosphere just before dusk.
4. Add a Relaxing Water Feature
Water features like gurgling fountains and small ponds can instantly create a peaceful atmosphere in your shade garden. The sound of running water, paired with the reflective, shimmering surface, amplifies the calmness of shaded areas.
5. Create a Cozy Spot to Dine
Shady areas provide much-needed relief from the heating sun. Make the most of your shaded garden by creating a lovely spot for some alfresco dining. Having a garden filled with greenery, trees, and your favorite plants becomes the ideal setting for a picnic or home-cooked meal.
6. Install a Lounge Seating
Along with having a spot to dine, consider adding some chairs, a bench, or an outdoor couch for some relaxed seating. These are idyllic spots to sit and soak in nature, read a book, or get some journaling done.
7. Incorporate a Rock Garden
Let rocks or boulders serve as art in your shade garden. This is one of the best ways to enhance the darkest spots in your yard because their rugged structure contrasts sharply with colorful flowers and greens.
8. Build a Meditation Garden in the Shade
One of the most significant advantages of having a garden is the ability to set aside some quiet time to connect with nature. You can improve this aspect even more by adding a meditation garden, such as one with sand and or gravel raking area. The theory is that raking the area to create patterns improves concentration, brings you into the present moment, and relaxes your mind. Shaded gardens are ideal for this because gravel does not require sunlight.
9. Let Moss Take Over
Moss thrives in low-light, high-humidity areas, making it an ideal addition to many shade gardens. In fact, direct sunlight can dry out moss and slow its growth. That being said, take advantage of your shady surroundings by allowing moss to flourish. It can even replace grass, as many lawn-type grasses require sunlight and regular mowing.
10. Add Vertical Intrigue With Ivy and Vines
Shade-tolerant vines provide color and texture, adding vertical interest to shaded areas of your garden or landscape. Consider planting Boston or English ivy, winter jasmine, climbing hydrangeas, or trumpet vines.
Shade gardens offer a quiet space, where soft colors and filtered light provide a relaxed setting in any landscape. Are you a shade garden lover?
