Top 5 shade garden designs for easy low maintenance landscaping

Just because your yard is mostly shade, doesn’t mean you have to give up on adding colour. There are so many possibilities when mixing shade tolerant annuals, perennials, and shrubs. If you’ve been struggling with landscape design ideas for your shady yard, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s guide, we present you with 5 easy low maintenance shade garden designs. These unique landscaping designs will take your yard from shabby to chic in no time. So, pull up a chair and let’s start designing your next shade garden oasis!

Types of shade you might find in a yard

Before we dive headfirst into the design space, let’s talk about the different types of shade. Some plants will do well in total shade, while others may still need a little sunlight. Determining the type of shade you have will help you to make the right choices for your landscape.

Partial shade

If you have partial shade in your yard, this means that you receive about 2-6 hours of sunlight a day. The shade that you have here might be cascading off a building or structure in your yard. It might also be a natural hilly part of your yard or a large tree. Both of these will block the sun at certain parts of the day. Plants to consider are ones that are shielded from hot afternoon sun and can tolerate some cooler morning sun.

Filtered Shade

Filtered shade is often found in areas that have a tree that acts as a large canopy. Here, the light is able to peek through the tree. Throughout the day, different patterns of light and shade will appear. In some cases, the bigger the tree, the more shade there will be.

Full Sun

Full shade yards get six of more hours of shade per day. It also means that the yard receives little to no sun all day. Areas with full shade are in between large buildings in an urban core or under an overhang of a home. You might also find complete shade on the north side of a home where it shielded from the sun. Plants that will grow well either are ones that can tolerate complete shade and very little sun.

Getting started with landscape design for shade gardens

Before you get started selecting plants for your garden, there are few things you want to keep in mind:

Do your homework

Not all plants will be suitable for a shade garden. Before you buy, visit your local nursery or garden centre. Look at options that might work for your space. While you are there, keep a notebook or your phone handy to take notes. Also make note of different features you might like to include in your shade garden. These could be pathways, benches, or water fountains.

Make a mockup of your design

Before you create your space, try sketching out a design first. You may have to do several attempts at it, but this outline will give you a rough idea to work from. If you are new to gardening, there are many apps and landscapers as well to help you design your new space.

Choose a theme for your shade garden

 Having a theme for your garden is a great way to match your landscape to your home. For example, if you have a contemporary home, why not try out a formal Japanese garden theme. Or, if you have a more cottage vibe to your home, an informal woodland garden might be just your cup of tea. Whatever style you choose, have fun and make it your own!

Top care tips for shade gardens

If you plan on having a shade garden in your yard, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

Water

Most shade plants do not need as much water as plants in the sun. The shade tends to shield the soil from drying out. If shade plants are near trees, you will need to keep an eye on water during dry spells. In the heat, the trees will draw up a lot of moisture.

Fertilizer

In the shade, plants tend to grow slower and need less fertilizer to survive. In fact, you may only need to top up your shade garden with compost in the early spring.

Weeding

If you hate weeding the garden, you are in luck with shade-loving plants. Weeds tend to like a lot of sun to grow and they will not grow quite as well in the shade. To help cut down on weeds, you can add a layer of mulch to your shade garden.

Pruning

Pruning in shade gardens is similar to other types of gardens. Prune out dead or diseased looking parts of your plants. Pruning helps to generate new growth and encourage reblooming.

Easy-to-grow and low maintenance plants for shade gardens

Here is a list of our top 6 favourite low maintenance shade-loving plants:

Hellebores

Hardy in zones 5-8, hellebores add a beautiful woodland feel to the garden. They are a low growing perennial great for borders or as a groundcover. Hellebores come in a variety of different colour options. They tolerate full shade to part shade conditions.

Columbine

If you are looking for a medium height shade plant, try planting some columbine. These interesting plants come in a variety of different colours and patterns. Columbine are hardy in zones 3-8. These plants are great for woodland themed gardens or for use in contemporary garden designs.

Coral bells

Nothing is more whimsical in the garden than coral bells. They have beautiful foliage and delicate flowers. Coral bells add brilliant pops of colour to your shade garden. Hardy in zones 4-9, this stunning perennial comes in many fun and interesting varieties.

Lamium

If you are looking for a groundcover with a wow factor, then look no further than lamium. Lamium has beautiful painted leaves and stunning blooms. It is a great low maintenance shade-loving plant. Hardy in zones 4-8, lamium is great for those areas where nothing grows. Used on its own or in a landscape, you cannot go wrong with this plant.

Primrose

Primroses are great if you are planning a cottage vibe for your shade garden. They come in a variety of different colours. Hardy in zones 3-8, primroses can tolerate partial shade to full shade conditions.

Astilbe

If you want to create a romantic feel in your shade garden, look for astilbe. These feathery, fern-like plants will dazzle you with their delicate flowers. Astilbe are hardy in zones 3-8. These perennials are easy-to-grow and will tolerate partial to full shade conditions.

Top 5 design ideas for shade gardens

When it comes to planning shade gardens, here is a list of our top five favourite designs:

Corner shade garden

If you have a corner of your garden that’s shady and you don’t know what to do with it, fear not. Many times adding in a bench can act as a peaceful place for quiet meditation. It can also serve as a place of rest to escape the hot afternoon sun.

Shaded front of house garden

If your home has a large overhang that blocks the sun, you may be struggling to design a garden space. Fear not gardening friends. Consider building a stone border wall and filling it with shade-loving plants. Some options are shade-loving perennials like hostas, astilbe, and foxgloves.

Using shade plants to add height

Perhaps your shade garden design involves adding height. Shade-loving vining perennials or shrubs will serve you well here. Try adding in some clematis or rhododendrons for added colour and height.

Shaded garden path

Perhaps you have a very narrow area of your yard that gets a lot of shade. Why not try creating a shaded garden path? Patio pavers combined with a border of shade-loving plants makes a beautiful transition to other parts of your yard.

Adding in garden art

Adding in some unique garden art pieces can take your shade garden from shabby to chic. Today, many local artisans handcraft unique pieces to accent any type of garden. Whether it is a metal structure or a ceramic statue, there is bound to be something to fit any garden space. Since many shade-loving plants are mostly foliage, adding in garden art is a great way to add colour and depth to space.

Final thoughts on shade garden design

Designing your new shade garden will be an adventure for sure. With time and patience, you can create the perfect shaded oasis. Mix and match different shade-loving plants and create the canvas you imagined. The possibilities are endless here. Until next time gardening friends, do you have a favourite design idea for shade gardens? Drop a comment below. We always love to hear what you are all up to in your garden.