Hi, r/Gardening! I have this terribly awkward space in my back yard (north side of house) that I would love to make a flower bed. I’m having trouble planning for it though and would love some advice and suggestions from seasoned gardeners.
In the summer, this area gets part sun/full sun. I planted some hostas this year as close to the house as possible to keep shaded, and they absolutely fried. One single solitary hosta survived.
In the winter, all but the very top corner is pretty much full shaded by the house. I don’t think my regulars like sages, rosemaries, etc. will do well in those months.
Any suggestions on how to lay this out/what to plant that will survive all seasons of changing light conditions? I am stumped. Thank you!
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[derpy golden Bill for scale]
tweepot
I would think you have two big options: plant a tree so it has more consistent shade (and then plant things that like shade like those hostas), or make it a more variable bed of annuals that you can change in and out as the sun moves.
You really don’t want a tree close to the aircon, power modules etc. or the house.
Low shrubs if you must.
Or flowers and groundcover? Shade isn’t a bad thing, not everything likes direct sunlight all day….I have a number of shapes like that here, surrounded by concrete. I never water, it’s always so wet….but I have various plants happily growing, some rosemary, freesias, strawberries, etc.
Take into account the height of sun winter/summer. Mine gets far more sun in summer than winter, and thus the strawberries do OK
hastipuddn
Perfect place for black-eyed susans which do well in sun or bright shade. I’ve even seen blooms in full shade. Look into Rudbeckia fulgida or R. triloba if they are native where you live.
FunRecommendation111
Ferns can look pretty amazing and are shade lovers
6 Comments
Hi, r/Gardening! I have this terribly awkward space in my back yard (north side of house) that I would love to make a flower bed. I’m having trouble planning for it though and would love some advice and suggestions from seasoned gardeners.
In the summer, this area gets part sun/full sun. I planted some hostas this year as close to the house as possible to keep shaded, and they absolutely fried. One single solitary hosta survived.
In the winter, all but the very top corner is pretty much full shaded by the house. I don’t think my regulars like sages, rosemaries, etc. will do well in those months.
Any suggestions on how to lay this out/what to plant that will survive all seasons of changing light conditions? I am stumped. Thank you!
​
[derpy golden Bill for scale]
I would think you have two big options: plant a tree so it has more consistent shade (and then plant things that like shade like those hostas), or make it a more variable bed of annuals that you can change in and out as the sun moves.
Be sure to keep plants a few feet away from that AC unit and be aware of the microclimate that unit will cause around it, which may affect the types of plants that will do well. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/far-away-should-plants-around-c-unit-51750.html
You really don’t want a tree close to the aircon, power modules etc. or the house.
Low shrubs if you must.
Or flowers and groundcover? Shade isn’t a bad thing, not everything likes direct sunlight all day….I have a number of shapes like that here, surrounded by concrete. I never water, it’s always so wet….but I have various plants happily growing, some rosemary, freesias, strawberries, etc.
Take into account the height of sun winter/summer. Mine gets far more sun in summer than winter, and thus the strawberries do OK
Perfect place for black-eyed susans which do well in sun or bright shade. I’ve even seen blooms in full shade. Look into Rudbeckia fulgida or R. triloba if they are native where you live.
Ferns can look pretty amazing and are shade lovers