Yep, but there's shade and then there's shade.....meaning what grows in the shade of a building may be totally different from what can grow in the shade under a tree. Some shade plants just can't compete with tree roots. Of course, different trees have different roots, so even that gets complicated. When I moved into my house in the country, all the neighbors came by and told me not to bother to plant trees, because they "won't grow out here". I planted trees anyway, and shrubs, and perennials, and thousands of bulbs, and more. Their trees continue to die and mine flourish. THEY didn't do research on what type of trees to plant! I did. THEY should have gotten soil and water tests and made any necessary improvements. They also allow grass to grow right up to the tree trunk, where I mulch the whole drip line so that grass doesn't steal water from the tree. We're in a hot, windy, droughty area. In the city, just 2 miles north, it's a whole different ball game.
