- What to consider when choosing a location
- preparation and planting
- Garden design ideas
- Tips for care
- Things to know about shade ground cover
- Types of shade plants
- frequently asked Questions
In areas where little or no sunlight falls, many hobby gardeners reach their limits. Most plants die under poor light conditions. But there are some specialists who have adapted to such extreme locations. These do not necessarily have to be mosses and ferns. Flowering plants also adorn shady areas.
Many ground covers thrive in both shade and partial shade
Table of Contents
Show all- choose location
- preparation and planting
- possible uses
- Tips for care
- Background and things worth knowing
- frequently asked Questions
- high walls
- north side of buildings
- eaves
- Tomb with woody planting
- for plants drier locations: enrich heavy soils with sand
- for nutrient-consuming plants: Incorporate compost
- for sensitive plants: Improve soil structure
- Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) is excellent for poor soils
- Star moss (Sagina subulata) is an ideal lawn substitute for dry locations that flowers white
- Wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) prefers light shade
- Sprinkle onion flowers in the surface
- Sprinkle shaded areas with light-looking or variegated species
- use bright flower colors
- Roses, bamboo and tall perennials loosen up extensive planting
- watering moisture-loving plants regularly
- water in the evening after dry and hot days
- Check soil moisture even on rainy days
- moderately water drought-tolerant plants
- Hoeing is taboo for ground covers
- sharp metal blades damage the shallow growing roots
- Measure creates gaps
- Growing together of the plants is delayed
- protect the soil from erosion
- mitigate temperature fluctuations
- reduce soil water loss through evaporation
- Roots loosen up the substrate
- suppress unwanted weeds
- produce humus and support soil life
- chlorophyll breakdown
- drought stress
- leaf burns
- low light saturation point: Photosynthetic performance cannot increase further even with more light
- low light compensation point: Illuminance at which fixed CO2 equals exhaled CO2
- decreased ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b: better use of infrared radiation
Ground covers for the shade are original inhabitants of forests and forest edges that have adapted to low-light conditions. Within the selection of varieties you will find ground cover for the dry shade and moisture-loving surface cover. They cope well with the root pressure of trees and are easy to care for. With a balanced combination of different groundcovers, shady garden areas bloom throughout the growing season and adorn the garden with fresh shades of green even in winter. All plants featured are hardy, although some species do better with winter protection.
What to consider when choosing a location
When flowering, ground covers in the shade are a real eye-catcher. However, not all shade is created equal, so you should pay attention to the subtleties when choosing your plants. All flowering plants show increased willingness to flower and vigorous growth in better light conditions. There are also species that not only thrive in light shade but also in full shade conditions.
light shadow
Creeping Günsel feels comfortable in the light shade
The bed is in light shade when sunspots and shade alternate continuously in a small space. Typical examples of such areas are translucent and gapped treetops of birch and willow, whose branches are soft and sparsely leafy. Beds that are not exposed to the sun for more than four hours in the morning or evening also ensure light-shade conditions.
Plants that thrive in partially shaded conditions do well here. In contrast to partially shaded corners, these areas are never in full shade. If you place pure shade plants in such locations, these species will thank you in their own way. They grow better and bloom more profusely.
full shade
Low-light conditions prevail at these locations at all times of the day. They don't get direct daylight. Such areas are typical under large evergreen shrubs such as rhododendrons or conifers. Mosses and ferns feel particularly at home in such locations.
Typical areas with full shade conditions:
preparation and planting
Ground covers in the shade, which draw attention to themselves with flowers, not only delight the eye. At the same time, they increase the biodiversity in the garden and attract numerous pollinators. Early-flowering species are particularly bee-friendly because they provide a valuable food source in spring. The right approach to planting is important so that they and their later flowering relatives make the garden shine.
Before planting
Thoroughly dig up the area where the shade plants are to grow. This loosens up the substrate and ensures air exchange. Remove sod and root weeds to keep them from interfering with the growth of carpet-forming species. Make sure that no root remains of goutweed or couch grass remain in the soil. Pay attention to the requirements of the ground cover:
Plant ground cover
After two years, the common hazel root has formed a dense carpet
Coverage plants are ideally planted out in late summer when weed growth has slowed. At the same time, the plants can grow in better because they do not have to fear stress from hot and dry summer days. The herbaceous plants have enough time for rooting until the onset of winter. How densely the species are planted depends on the individual growth forms and growth rates. It also matters how quickly you want to cover the area:
| covering carpet | required plants per square meter | |
|---|---|---|
| ivy | a year | up to 4 |
| Ordinary hazel root | two years | up to 24 |
| Balkan cranesbill | two years | up to 4 |
| Carpet Goldberry | two years | up to 16 |
| fat man | three years | 12 to 15 |
Slow-growing species such as fat man and hazel root quickly become competitors if they are planted too densely. They shoot up, which often makes the carpet of plants look unkempt. Place such species further apart from each other and be more patient. If the ground is to be covered quickly, strong-growing species such as ivy are recommended. Shorten the shoots by half immediately after planting so that the plant branches out quickly.
After planting
Mulch (€239.00) hides weed growth
Especially with slow-growing species, you have to make sure that no weeds spread over the area for the next two to three years. Work horn shavings (€32.93) into the substrate and then distribute bark mulch under the perennials. This layer prevents uncontrolled water loss from the soil through evaporation and suppresses the growth of unwanted weeds. Water the plants thoroughly so that pores in the soil close and the roots get contact with the soil.
Avoid stress and disturbance
In order for the perennials to grow well, you should avoid stepping on them in the first year after planting. Numerous ground covers are considered to be hard-wearing or walkable. However, such types should not be used like a conventional lawn. There is a risk that the carpet of plants will become gappy and real walking paths will emerge. If the soil is wet, the load should be greatly reduced so that the growth potential is not restricted.
These are walkable shade plants:
Garden design ideas
You can plant ground covers individually or mix them with species that have similar site requirements. With shady plant arrangements, also make sure that the species have a similar growth rate. Do not combine weak-growing plants with strong-growing competitors.
grave planting
Ground covers are ideal for graves because they hardly require any maintenance and permanently beautify the memorial. Choose slow-growing ground covers so the planting doesn't seem intrusive or get out of hand. With these species, the cutting costs are also kept within limits.
Tips for care
With ground covers you not only make your garden attractive but also easy to care for. Evergreen perennials are particularly recommended because they develop a closed plant cover all year round and provide green color accents. Choose ground covers for the shade that are hardy. Shady locations ensure that the plants keep their foliage even in the harsh winter months.
water demand
Because most shade plants develop large leaf areas to make the most of the low light, they lose a lot of water through evaporation. High humidity supports the growth of many ground covers. The optimal water supply is important so that the water balance does not collapse. If the perennials grow under trees, the water intake is limited even on rainy days. The dense crowns of the deciduous trees shield the area around the base of the trunk. There are some specialists that are adapted to shady and at the same time dry locations and require less water.
How to water correctly:
In order for the plants to grow well and compact quickly, the right water supply is necessary. Water ground covers every few days for the first year to encourage root growth. Use a hose or watering can to water. You should avoid sprinklers, as the rain increases the humidity too much and could cause fungal infestation.
When the shade is too dry
Most forest plants benefit from the increased humidity. In the herb layer, the water balance is largely constant. But such areas are difficult to imitate in the garden, so that a dry and dark location often arises under eaves and dense trees.
There are also shade ground covers that like it dry. Varieties such as the 'Frohnleiten' elf flower, a selection from the Balkan cranesbill or the almond-leaved spurge are known to be hungry artists and hardly need to be watered. However, even for these specialists, good soil preparation before planting is necessary.
nutrient supply
Shade-flowering groundcovers are among the leaf-eaters, being covered by falling leaves in the fall and pushing their shoots through the rotting layer in the spring. This creates a humus layer and the plants are optimally supplied with nutrients in their natural habitats.
In order to promote healthy growth, you should base the site conditions on the natural conditions. If your shade plants do not grow under deciduous trees and no layer of humus is created by leaf fall, you should provide them with a basic fertilizer of compost in the spring.
Flat-growing ground covers are not only attractive, they also save the hobby gardener a lot of work.
cutting and design measures
A trimming in spring is good for elfin flowers
Ground covers in the shade that are evergreen, just like wintergreen or deciduous species, do not need to be pruned. You can trim perennials such as elfin flower, cranesbill or waldsteinia in spring if you don't mind their wild character. This measure is not necessary, however, because it interrupts the natural nutrient cycle. If weeds spread between the plants, they should be removed by hand weeding.
Winter protection necessary?
Normally, ground covers do not need winter protection. While deciduous species retreat into the ground and survive there, winter and evergreen plants remain above ground. The humus-rich soil stores moisture and ensures that evergreen species such as the lesser periwinkle are not damaged even on frost-free and sun-intensive days in winter. If there is no humus layer, the soil can dry out even during the cold season. Winter sun and frost are the enemies of evergreen ground covers. Make sure that the water supply is secured.
propagate ground cover
The good thing about ground covers is that they propagate via stolons. These can be developed on the substrate surface or in the soil. If the plants are well established, you can cut off the above-ground shoots in autumn and place them in a glass of water. After a few weeks roots have formed and the cuttings can be planted out. Species with subterranean runners are propagated and rejuvenated by division. The individual sub-plants can be planted directly at the new location.
tips
If you want to multiply chickweed, simply collect a few flowering shoots from nature. The seeds will also ripen when the plant is no longer rooted in the soil. After a short time you can sprinkle the brown seeds on the ground and let them germinate with good moisture.
Things to know about shade ground cover
In nature there are no unvegetated soils
In natural habitats, there is no soil that remains permanently bare. Plant growth is a natural development that occurs depending on the subsoil and environmental conditions. At the same time, the plants take on important tasks and ensure that the ecosystems function optimally.
Benefits of ground covers:
origin
Many shade plants come from the tropics, because in the rain forests naturally shaded areas are created by the storeys. In the undergrowth, plants have established themselves that do not require a lot of light. Shade plants are typical of forests and are therefore widespread worldwide.
tips
Set clumpy growing shade perennials between the domestic shade ground cover small periwinkle. Christmas roses, hostas or display leaves are suitable for setting color accents.
A life in the shadows
The lack of light conditions are clearly compensated by the increased humidity in the herb layer. Shade plants thrive despite the darkness as the high humidity increases their productivity.
Such species, which also thrive in sunny conditions, are often pushed into full shade by competition. They cannot prove themselves against more vigorous species and have to cope with the conditions that prevail in the dense undergrowth.
But even if these plants grow better under increased amounts of light, real forest species are not suitable for sunny locations. Damage can quickly occur under direct sunlight:
digression
Types of shade plants
There are so-called obligatory shade plants that only grow in shady conditions. They include ferns and mosses in the undergrowth of forests. Optional shade plants prove to be more adaptable, thriving even in full sunlight. This group includes all flowering plants such as wood sorrel or wood violet and those that grow in early stages in shady and later sunny conditions. Some optional shade plants develop habit forms that deviate from their actual shape in full sunlight.frequently asked Questions
Which ground covers bloom in the shade?
Plants depend on light to carry out photosynthesis. This metabolic process supplies the perennial with vital energy. Shade plants, however, only need a tiny proportion of the usual amount of light and can still carry out their maximum photosynthesis.
Numerous shade plants grow in the herbaceous layer of tropical rain forests. These include ferns and mosses, but also flowering plants such as bromeliads. In our latitudes, forest plants are considered shade plants. Typical examples are sorrel and balsam, which require no more than one percent of sunlight for healthy growth.
How can shade plants survive without light?
Shade-tolerant plants usually have large and particularly thin leaf surfaces. Many large-leaved shade plants are moisture-loving because evaporation is very high. The leaf tissue is loose and rich in chlorophyll, which allows the plants to use the low light more effectively. Shade leaves appear darker green than sun leaves due to the higher proportion of chlorophyll. These special adaptations allow shade plants to grow optimally even in low light:
Which ground covers are better for the shade - evergreen or evergreen?
Both growth forms are in demand as they cover the ground with more or less fresh green leaves all year round. A positive side effect is the natural suppression of weeds. Evergreen species such as small periwinkle or fat man only renew individual over-old leaves when necessary. They adorn the shady area all year round with a uniform green carpet of leaves and are always in full leaf.
On the other hand, evergreen ground covers completely renew their leaves in spring, so that the bed appears gapped or bare for a short time. Some species, such as foam flower and Balkan cranesbill, lose their leaves in particularly cold winter months or in exposed places. However, evergreen ground covers tend to bloom more attractively than evergreen species.
Are there edible ground covers for the shade?
There are many native plants that thrive in shady conditions and provide edible foliage, flowers, or fruit. A well-known example is the blueberry, which is best planted under trees and shrubs. If you like it a bit tart, you can put the lingonberry in the garden. It has similar requirements as the blueberry.
The wild strawberry, whose small fruits are tastier than those of the cultivated strawberry, offers a special aromatic pleasure. Chickweed is often dismissed as a weed, but works wonders as a ground cover. If the plant spreads too much, you can export it in bunches and eat it raw or steamed.
Which types of shade-tolerant ground covers are particularly suitable for beginners?
Most plants that grow in such locations turn out to be easy to care for. But sometimes it's the details that count and so not every attempt to green shady areas is successful. Some shade plants are unproblematic and not very sensitive, so they are also suitable for beginners. These include deadnettles with their crimson flowers, ivy, species of the genus Allium, cushion bellflowers or the Japanese forest poppy.