A love of trees can be a dilemma
for home gardeners. The beauty and majesty that statuesque trees
offer, along with the time needed to grow to maturity, make even
a thought of removing them anathema for us. That's probably as
it should be---the trees may be older than we are! Our decision
to cut down trees can have far reaching effects. But, besides
providing privacy, serenity and seasonal variety, our trees make
shade. And whether your interests are with vegetables,
perennials or even annuals, too much shade can make growing an
attractive, productive garden a task. So, what should be
considered for a shady area?
Try to note, or at least estimate,
the seasonality effect. The sun is a lot higher in June than in
September and depending on the growing season of your area, the
quantity of daily sunlight can vary significantly. Other
factors, such as the location of your house and your neighbors'
houses and trees may come into play. Sometimes pruning or
trimming your trees can add substantial light. Oaks, Maples, and
other popular hardwoods may need limited shaping. But the height
and girth of the pines and the evergreens are more easily
controlled.
Determine your garden's shade
type as well as time. A single tree might provide only filtered
shade while more expansive stands may completely block sunlight
all day. You may have a situation where the morning sun is
prevalent and very little afternoon sun is available---or just
the opposite. Full sun is usually categorized as 4-5 hours per
day. If an area receives no sunlight to less than a couple
hours, it is normally considered deep shade.
Selection of plants for your
garden should be, in large part, determined by the quantity of
sunlight received daily. One last point: before turning that
first shovel of ground, plans for future tree planting should be
considered.
This is a list of things to
consider when shade interferes with your gardening plans.
Whether you're in to vegetables, perennials or even annuals,
positioning of your garden is important.
