I just moved into an apartment in Brooklyn, NY and my back patio is so dark & depressing I need some serious help. It’s facing north so sunlight is sparse. It’s actually crazy it looks semi sunny in this photo. That is maybe for 1 hour each day.
Ideas: mirrors? Reading about which plants could potentially thrive in full shade. Could I grow ivy on the lattice? The ground is covered in slate and there are some garden beds with soil.
Any advice would be so appreciated!
by Far_Confusion6266
25 Comments
Vibrant outdoor rug and maybe bright colored lounge chairs?
Was gonna ask if the dark is in the room with us now… might be more helpful to see photos in the more common lighting.
Be careful with ivy, it tends to grow a lot and take over. I’d go to a nursery and look at native plants and flowers that do well in this environment. I’m sure there’s loads of plants you could put here. People who run local nurseries are full of knowledge, just ask them.
If you can not cut theses tree back than your gonna need soft lights that go around your area like string light or something
Easiest remedy pressure wash all concrete stone and tile and if you feel like a little flair you can buy glow in the dark paints or epoxies for the stones
Its Not DARK or sad. Its Just dead, IT needs plants a Lot of Them.
When I first moved into my apartment, my tiny patio was basically just a concrete slab and it looked super bleak. I started bringing in a bunch of shade-loving plants (ferns, hostas, caladiums – life savers!) and even some hanging planters to add different layers. It seriously changed the vibe and made it feel so much more inviting.
It needs colour. You already have the flowerbeds and lattice to grow flowering vines. I don’t know what your climate zone is but some suggestions:
* Rosa (climbing/rambler roses)
* Clematis
* Trachelospermum (climbing yasmin)
* Lonicera (honeysuckle)
* Hydrangea anomala petiolaris (climbing hydrangea)
* Bougainvillea
* Wisteria
* Passiflora
* Vitis (grape)
* Pyracantha
* Bryonia
And there are more! Go to a local plant nursery for good advice and different options. Do not go to the plant section of your local DIY.
*My friend let a Clematis climb up in their birch and you won’t believe how many people comment on how pretty their birch flowers and not realise birch don’t flower pretty. It does look gorgeous: white bark and pale violet flowers.*
Hanging fuscia baskets on shepherd hooks, hibiscus in pots, lilies, impatiens, colorful pots with a variety of plants at different levels not just on the ground, vertical planter, string some lights, colorful furniture as was mentioned, pressure wash as was mentioned, hummingbird feeders, colorful throw rugs as was mentioned, thats a great space you have!
This would be considered open shade or even potentially dappled shade from a planting perspective. That’s good news, as it will give you lots more plant options. Of course this is not the best time of year to be planting, but winter will give you lots of time to research hardy plants for your zone. Think of these as your foundational plants and then of course you can add some non-hardy plants for extra color. I’d be looking for at least a few large pots to add around (think at least 24″ tall and 15″ wide). A big pot has enough room to layer plants and can have a BIG impact. Hopefully you can get some beauties on sale this fall/winter. Japanese Maples do well in pots, too. It might sound insand to add another tree, but a really bright one [like this](https://japanesemaplesandconifers.com/products/acer-palmatum-butterfly?variant=42571573493983) would have so much impact! iI wouldn’t even rule out some artificial plants or vines – they make some pretty good looking options these days. [This site](https://www.shopwildthings.com/artificial-fern-tropical-foliage-wall-panel-40×40?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17226151871&gbraid=0AAAAAD_ncvu7djaoVHAnNrwFiiYjdGkh4&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoP_FBhDFARIsANPG24NWEEJmR1K3EaUqLT6YCVP5u9J4UkWNuYrsaWczK34CW3wu38hs4MsaAqCsEALw_wcB) has some interesting options.
I can’t speak 100% accurately to your hardiness zome, but some colorful shade perennials that come to mind are heuchera, brunnera, epimedium, various ferns, shade grasses like Carex ‘Everillo’ or Japanese Forest Grass.
When you do add plants to the existing planters, be sure to mix in some rich soil and fertilize a few times during the growing season. Who knows how old that soil is…
I also agree with a colorful outdoor rug and furniture. Think about powder-coated metal if you just want to leave the furniture outside all year – maybe you could even spray paing that current set chartreuse or something?
Hope that’s helpful and have fun. Cool backyard for the city!!!
Not sad at all! You just need some plants or flowers to add liveness. Maybe choose some flowers don’t need to much light and they would grow up very soon with proper care.
Outdoor rug and furniture in bright bold pops of color. Hella plants. Coleus loves shade and they have all kinds of crazy colors!
Have an untypical amount of money for the rebuild,
How do you know it’s sad?
Drop some acid and then look at it, it’ll be bright
Buy a new plant, it dies, replace it with a new plant.
Plants for the empty beds, a fish pond or fountain, grill…ivy will destroy that latticework and is an evil invasive
Clay pots with flowers
Colorful light chain. And more plants obviously.
Stain all that lattice with a natural cedar – jezz
Dont be afraid of ivy. Its a plant which does want some shade, does Not watering (ofc when U plant IT at the begining)
Its ranking (climbing). Just dont plant poison ivy
Add colour, add some mirrors for more light and the illusion of more space. Add some colourful leaved plants like heucheras. Add some plants the give motion like grasses or tall stemmed plants. Add a waterfall for lovely sound and motion which invite birds to drink.
Plants
Hosta plants would thrive there, and many other shade plants. Keep reading about full shade plants. There is no need to be depressed. Winter is coming so you’ll have time to read up and decide what to plant in the spring. It looks beautiful to me.
OK. Two posts about your sad apartment in Brooklyn? You’re a downer.