Most plants require plenty of sunlight to grow. But shaded areas will inevitably form on the site. Really give them to the weeds? In this article we will tell you what to plant in the shade at the cottage of vegetables and flowers. And let not a single square centimeter of land is empty.
Gardening in the shade
As you know, 8-10 hours of direct sunlight are optimal conditions for the growth of most crops. But there are plants that are resistant to shading.
Therefore, when drawing up a plan for planting for next year, you need to take into account several nuances: how the sun will illuminate your site, how the illumination of the territory changes throughout the day, which parts remain in shadow all the time. These factors are very important: sometimes the lack of ultraviolet radiation only slightly reduces the volume of the crop, and in other cases it is better to give a shaded patch of land to hosts and moss.
What to plant in the shade at the cottage under the trees?
First of all, we note that for a successful result you need to follow these rules:
- Remove low and dangling branches.
- Thin out the crown so that it lets in the sun.
- Use raised flower beds so that the plants do not compete with the roots of the tree for nutrients.
- Dig the soil as thoroughly as possible without damaging the roots.
- Fertilize fertilizers in a timely manner, ideally, before planting, you need to make a nutrient layer, generously enriched with compost (to a depth of about 10 cm).
What to plant in the shade at the cottage under the trees? Of all vegetables, leaf crops are the most tolerant of a small deficit of sunlight. In hot areas, they are even preferable to grow in light shading, so they will remain tender longer and will not be bitter.
These plants include: salad of all kinds, garlic, chard, green onions, cabbage (including kohlrabi and broccoli), arugula, spinach, leeks, sorrel. From root crops - radish, radish, potatoes, beets, carrots, turnips.
And what can be planted in the shade at the cottage of spices? The list of such herbs includes basil, parsley, dill, chervil, cilantro. Forest strawberries will calmly react to such conditions.
If in doubt whether there will be enough sunlight for the good growth of these crops, start small and evaluate the result. If you have too much shade in the area, the leaves will be thin, lethargic and pale. Vegetables and greens will have a mild taste and are likely to lose crispness.
How to improve the crop with a deficit of sun?
In addition to caring for trees and fertilizing, gardeners resort to such tricks as mulching the soil between vegetables with a reflective film. It comes in different shades, for example, white is universal, and red material is best for growing tomatoes. The most effective is a metallized film, since it reflects most of the light. With such an assistant, the list of what can be planted in the shade at the cottage is expanding significantly.
After all, the advantages of using this non-traditional type of mulching are as follows:
- an increase in the amount of light in the vegetation;
- local increase in air temperature;
- increasing the intensity of photosynthesis, and hence the growth of culture;
- reduction of damage to beds by some insects (in particular, aphids and thrips);
- increase in yield and quality.
In addition, it must be borne in mind that the soil in the shade warms up worse, so you can not plant the plants ahead of schedule, otherwise they may freeze.
Flowerbed in the shade of trees
Despite the fact that trees in the forest do not let in direct sunlight, you probably noticed that there is never even a patch of bare earth. This is great evidence that there are plants that will feel good in light shade.
This arrangement is ideal for nasturtium, because if it receives too much sunlight, its leaves dry out and the flowers become smaller. The color palette is wide - from bright tropical colors of Amazon Jewel, Alaska, Copper Sunset to gentle pastel tones of Moonlight or cream-red from Vanilla Berry.
Looking for beautiful cut flowers? Do not know what you can plant in the shade in the country under the trees? Choose snapdragons, feverfew, sage, sunflower and terry pansies.
But trees take away from the flowers not only sunlight, but also moisture from the soil. What to plant in the shade in the country, if there is no way to often water? There are flowers that differ in drought tolerance, for example: periwinkle, euphorbia, lily of the valley, Caucasian cyclamen, beautiful dicenter, or heartflower, large-root geranium, Spanish hyacinthoid, osmanthus.
If, on the contrary, the shadow from the trees is combined with the shadow from the buildings or the fence, then moisture may stagnate in the area. In such conditions, fern, Japanese anemone, high gerbil, Canadian deren, many species of host, hellebore, moss grow well.
What to plant in the country in the shade of the house?
As a rule, this is a rather unfavorable place for plants, especially when it comes to the north side.
It is not recommended to grow vegetables in such conditions. But some flowers can ennoble this part of your site. In addition, such plants often have an unusual shape, which gives the flowerbed a special charm. What to plant in the shade at the cottage to decorate it? Pay attention to such flowers as the catchment (aquilegia), digitalis (digitalis), nigella (nigella). To add gentle flavors, plant tobacco (nicotiana) and forget-me-nots.
Along the perimeter of the site
A decent part of the territory is obscured by its fence. What to plant in the shadow of the fence in the country? If it is enough for plants to get “sun baths” 4-6 hours a day, then you can use these areas for vegetables listed above, or even plant there useful perennials.
For example, currants, gooseberries, hazel, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries and berries are best grown in sunny places, but also tolerate good shading. It is possible to reduce the number of crops, but you will still use this piece of land. The same goes for some varieties of cherries and plums.
And what to plant along the fence in the country in the shade, if you want to hide it? Many gardeners like to hide a fence or walls of buildings behind a green screen from perennial vines and climbing plants.
For planting in the shade, the following are suitable: five akebia, clematis, curly hydrangea (lianiform), schizophragma, curly honeysuckle, six-leaf stauntonia.
Such beautiful and healthy crops can be planted even in shaded areas of your summer cottage.