From The Gardens

After a big storm many gardeners who previously had lamented that their gardens were too shady now are blessed??? with lots of sunshine.  After all the clean up, the only bright spot from that storm may be the fact that some of us will now be able to grow a variety of  plants that we were unable to before.

While you now can grow many more annuals, perennials, shrubs and perhaps even will be able to have a vegetable garden,  your shady garden plants will probably not be happy in the sunshine.  Many will need to be moved in the Spring to a more protected spot.  They will be fine during the winter dormancy period, but will need relocation in late April or early May.

Some shade lovers, such as bleeding heart, Japanese anemone, perennial lobelia, lady’s mantle, and many hosta varieties will tolerate more sun  very well.  Daylilies that had only a few flowers in the shade  should throw up many scapes with lots of flowers in the sun.   Monarda also will grow  vigorously with more sunlight.

Others, such as  primroses, epimedium, some perennial geraniums and any native woodland plants like trillium or phlox divaricata will quickly notify you of their displeasure.  If you see curled or brown edges on leaves you will know it’s time to move that plant to a shadier spot.

Astilbe will grow in the sun if there is plenty of moisture, but most of our gardens are not that wet.  Be prepared to move them to a shady spot (hopefully there is some shade left in the yard) next spring.  Hosta with blue or blue-green leaves will be the first to suffer in too much sun.  The more sun that shines on the leaves, the more the leaves will loose the attractive glaucus blue appearance, and they will become an ordinary green.  Any hosta with a chartreuse or yellow cast will actually appreciate more sunshine and  look more attractive.  Hosta are among the perennials that tolerate shade as opposed to plants that require shade as a respite from hot summer sun, such as primroses (Primula species)

Another thing to consider if your garden has changed dramatically is the PH of your soil.  If the trees you lost were pine or other evergreens, and you wish to plant a new garden in the space where those trees used to be, you probably ought to have your soil tested by Cornell Co-Operative Extension to determine the acidity.   If the pines were there for a long time, dropping needles for many years the soil has probably become too acid to grow most perennials. This is easily remedied by adding enough lime to bring the soil back to neutral, but a test should be done to be sure.

Being able to grow sun loving perennials is  small consolation for having lost mature beautiful trees in your yard,  but all we can do is plant new trees and anticipate new gardening adventures in a sunny garden.