3 Landscaping Tips for Shady Yards

Having a shady yard can be a major advantage. It can help to keep your property much cooler, and the reduced ultraviolet light exposure from the sun could lead to less fading of your home’s roof and siding. With that in mind, shady lawns do call for specific landscaping strategies to help play up their strengths. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you come up with a design plan.

How to Master Landscaping If You Have a Shady Property

1. Layer the Foliage 

The key to eye-catching landscaping in a shady area is to situate plants of varying heights strategically. Create a cascading wall of foliage by selecting tall plants for the back, medium-height plants for the middle, and short plants or ground cover for the front. For example, you might select some tall shrubs or even ornamental trees for the recesses of your gardens, then plant flowers in front of them. In the front row, ground-covering plants, like vinca vines, can fill in empty spots.

2. Choose Shade-Loving Plants

Many plants need full or partial sun to thrive, but there are plenty of species that do well in the shade. Japanese maples and Japanese yews are small trees and shrubs that thrive in darker conditions. There is a wide flower selection to choose from, including coral bells, impatiens, astilbe, and hellebore. Consider shade-loving ground covering like hostas, ferns, and Canadian bunchberry.

3. Mix Colors and Textures

Since shaded areas have less visibility due to limited sunlight, you’ll need to incorporate different textures and colors into the landscaping to draw the eye in. Flowers are usually the boldest in color, so start by choosing a species and hue you love. For example, you might want to brighten up a dark space with bold yellow or coral impatiens. 

Complement the predominant color choice with hues that are opposite its shade on the color wheel to create the most appealing visual effect. For instance, red is across from green, orange is across from blue, and yellow is across from purple on the wheel. Therefore, you could plant red flowers and surround them with lush, green ferns for a striking effect.

No matter how sunny or shady your property, the options for landscaping are endless, and the team at Buzz Landscaping Inc. can help you create a stunning display. They serve homeowners and business owners throughout Conway, AR. Their team can guide you through plant selection and help you choose the foliage that will thrive in your yard. These professionals have 25 years of experience and will also install and maintain your landscape, so all you have to do is enjoy it. They also specialize in water features. View their gallery of completed projects online, or call (501) 730-4515 to schedule a free consultation.