A common question gardeners have is "what ground covers can be grown in shade?" First of all, all shade is not created equally. Shade under an evergreen tree is different than shade under a small crabapple. So it's best to match the type of shade you have with the ground cover.
Here's a guide to the four types of shade:
Part Shade
When you get 3 to 4 hours of direct sun a day, not necessarily all at once. Impatiens, vinca, hellebore and coral bells grow well in part shade.
Dappled Shade
The light you get under a large, open canopied tree, such as a honey locust, or a smaller tree, such as a plum. Plant lamium, sweet woodruff and pulmonaria in dappled shade.
Medium Shade
Found under large trees, such as maples, with limbs no closer than 20 feet off the ground or on the north side of a building. Here you're limited to plants like hostas and ferns.
Deep Shade
What you find under evergreens, such as hemlock, and large, thick-canopied deciduous trees such as Norway maple. Moss and mulch are about the only plants that survive here.
For this week's tip:
Don't overdo it your first few days in the garden. Too much garden work can lead to sore backs, arms and legs. Stretch before and after gardening, pace yourself, alternate tasks and take breaks to get used to this strenuous work.
