| The north side of my house only see's roughly 3 or 4 hours a day of sun, I want to plant something that likes shade that has blooms in the spring, summer. My soil is primarily clay. Sould I use some compost and sand to loosen up the soil for better drainage ? |
| Yes, I'd definately improve the soil before planting. Add plenty of compost, but be careful with the sand so you don't end up with adobe bricks! Add a layer of compost/mulch to the top of the soil every season to continue improving it. Here are some flowers for shade: Perennials -- Anemone, Columbine, Astilbe, Campanula, lily of-the-valley, Dicentra, Digitalis, Ferns, Hosta, daylilies, Liriope, Monarda, Pachysandra, Thalictrum, Vinca, navelwort (Omphalodes cappadocica), blue lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia), pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica), bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) and sweet violets (Viola odorata). Annuals -- Begonia, Browallia, Coleus, annual Foxglove, Forget-me-not, Impatiens, Primrose, Torenia, Viola. Bulbs -- Begonia, Caladium, Camassia, Elephant's ears, Lilium, Narcissus, Scilla, Callas. For shrubs, you might consider viburnums, hypericum, paxistima, shrub dogwoods and hydrangea arborescens. Try to go to a full-service nursery and look around. Plants under canopies or cover are usually the shade-lovers. |
