Woodland Gardens 1

Sue Reinardy

www.GardenTrueNorth.com

Outline for Today

Elements of a Woodland Garden

Types of Shade

Tips for shade & wooded areas

Plants for each type of shade &

season

Elements of Woodland

Garden1. Overstory trees for

shade

2. Understory

3. Tie together with shrubs

4. Interesting woodland floor

5. Add a few detailsGarvin Gardens, Hot Springs, AR

Think of your yard as

three areas

Inner Area high traffic

Area-in-between lawn scape

Outer Areatrees, shrubs,

background

Terminology

“Extreme Naturalism”-

use natural elements:

rocks, leaf mulch

Wabi Sabi- Japanize

term for appreciating

the imperfect

Natural Style

Shade Gardens

Intermingling – fuzzy

edges that change and

shift over time

A More Natural Approach

Naturalistic and wild in

appearance

Grow what your site will

sustain

Plan for less diligent and

consistent care

Plan for plants to grow

into each other over a

season and over time

Plan for trees to grow

larger and to decline

Plan for Changes

over Time

Existing trees

Full sun

Natural woodland

Shade Loving or Shade

Tolerant

Woodland or shade

plants average about 4

hours of less sun per day

Plants adapt

Sun plants may do well

in shade, just flower less

or become smaller

Shade plants may do

well in sun, just need

more water

Advantages

Flower blooms tend to last longer and color is

more intense than in the sun

Plant foliage is unlikely to suffer burns

Plants tend to need less fertilizer

Weeds tend to be less of a problem

Less maintenance

Fewer insect problems

Trees provide natural leaf mulch during winter

months

Disadvantages

Few plants and colors

Plants grow more slowly

Foliage tends to remain wet longer

Slugs and snails

Soil acidity

Types of Shade

Deep, Dense, Heavy, Full

Partial, Half, Medium, Dappled

Filtered, light, thin

•Wet or dry

•Morning or afternoon sun

•Seasonal shade

Maintaining Woodlanders

Not desirable to disturb

soil surface

Generally the smaller the

plants the more

weeding needed

Better to give a deep

irrigation than small

frequent waterings

Mulch beds with organic

material

Fertilizer Tips

Goal is soil with high organic matter

Try organic fertilizer (8-5-5) since chemical

fertilizers may be too “hot”

Fertilizer with high nitrogen can cause lush but

pest-attracting growth

Leave leaves lie

Mowing Perennial Beds

Tips to growing sun loving

plants in the shade

Plants grow leggier in

shade, so buy the

bushiest, most compact specimens

If you like a certain sun-

loving plant but only

have shade – try it there.

When buying shade-tolerant

plants, pick varieties that

bloom early, before

deciduous trees block the

light during their most active

growth

Colors

Dominate shade colors:

white, blue, mauve, pink

Daylilies can add splash of

color

Start with “anchor” plants

like hydrangea or viburnum

Light colors will stand out in

shade

Ex. Red advances, white

dominates

Tips for planting under

trees Avoid damaging tree roots

do not add soil on top of tree roots

gently plant between roots

do not cut into roots 2” or larger

use a layer of mulch no deeper than 2-4” thick

Look to nature for inspiration in plant selection

Be prepared to water the first year or two until plants are established

Use containers to add color

Collecting Native Plants

Native plants - The old wildflower law that protected

plants such as orchids, trillium and bittersweet was taken

off the books in 1978. Except for wild ginseng, wild rice

and endangered or threatened species, all other plants

are unprotected on private lands and may be taken,

transported or sold - with the exception of noxious

weeds and nuisance weeds. On state property, you cannot take any plants or plant parts except for edible

fruits, edible nuts, wild mushrooms, wild asparagus, and

watercress. These may be removed by hand without a

permit for the purpose of personal consumption by the

collector.

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/endangeredresources/laws.html

Inspiration

Chanticleer Gardens, PA

Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania

Private Garden, Hayward, WI

Private Garden, Hayward, WI

Minnesota Arboretum

Minnesota Arboretum

Private Garden, Hayward, WI

Private Garden – Oshkosh WI

Bulbs in Shade Garden(in order from early to late)

• Snowdrops (Galanthus)

• Crocus

• Siberian Squill (Scilla Siberica)

• Winter Aconite (Eranthus)

• Daffodils (Narcissus)

• Double Grape Hyacinth (Muscari)

• Tulips

• Wood Hyacinth (Scilla

companulata)

• Alliums

Life Cycle of Spring Flowering

BulbsFall -- Plant when soil

temperatures are below 50

degrees – October. Water well.

Protect against squirrels.

Winter--Protect from

thaw/freeze cycles and early,

warm weather with a mulch.

Remove mulch when leaves

emerge.

Spring -- Enjoy the show—

protect from rabbits & deer if not

resistant. Remove spent flower

stem. Leaves should remain until

brown and can be pulled easily.

Summer -- Plants are

dormant. Bulbs can remain in

place, be divided or removed and

stored in a dry, cool location until

fall planting time.

When and Where to Plant

• When temps are consistently cool (55 degrees) and until ground freezes

• Most bulbs prefer moist, well-drained soil in growing season and drier soil when dormant

• Remove all debris and/or cover area to discourage squirrels

How to Plant

• General rule plant spring bulbs

at a depth 3 times their height,

• Space at least 3-4 times the

width of the bulb apart

• Plant point-end down or on its

side

• Blood meal or grit on top of soil

can also discourage pests

• Water

Naturalized Daffodils

Spring Bulb Failure to

Perennialize

• Bulb species not adaptable to climatic zone

• Poor drainage

• pH greatly exceed the 6-7 range

• Site had high salt content and roots burned

• Bulbs not properly fertilized to maintain bulb size

• Site had improper light for adequate photosynthesis

• Foliage was not allowed to remain or was bent over

• Heavy freezing damage occurred

• There were serious diseases

• Prolonged drought affect plant growth

Profile -- Narcissus

• Reliable for naturalizing and long-lived

• Any soil type --prefer slightly alkaline conditions, moist in spring,

drier during dormant period

• Sun or dappled shade

• Add organic matter to improve drainage, excess nitrogen can

result in lots of leaves and no flowers.

• Deer resistant!

Horticulturally classified in 13 divisions based on flower form and original species

Fritillaria True lilies

Fritillaria imperialis(Crown Imperial) have the showiest flowers

Fritillaria meleagris(Snakeshead lily) have checkered or mottled pattern on drooping blooms

Unusual and hardy when planted in moist soil in sun to part shade

Resist deer, squirrels and may protect other bulbs from bulb digging rodents

Leucojum aestivum

Summer Snowflake Bloom mid to late spring, not to be

confused with similar and more common Galanthus or snowdrops

Snowflake’s foliage lasts a long time after the flowers fade, by mid-summer the leaves will yellow and die back

Do best when the bulbs are left undisturbed for long periods of time, naturalize well but slowly

Deer and rabbit resistant and virtually no insect pests

Photo taken May 14

Alliums

• Plant in the fall, among dry loving perennials

• Prefer full sun to light shade & well-drained soil

• Feed with 10-10-10 fertilized 3 times a year: early spring when foliage emerges, summer when the blooms fade, fall during final clean-up

• Deer and rabbit resistant!

Dry vs. Moist

Dry

Mulch, water new plants

Hellebore, Spotted

Deadnettle, Bloodroot,

fern, trillium, lady’s mantle

Moist

Consistent moisture

Astilbe, Brunnera, Fernleaf

Bleeding Heart, Coral bells

Light Shade

1. Aster

2. Turtlehead (Chelone obliqua)

3. Cranesbill Geranium (Geranium

sanguineum)

4. Bee Balm (Monarda ‘Jacob Kline’)

5. Phlox

1. P. divaricata (woodland)

2. P. maculata (early)

3. P. paniculata (border)

4. P. stolonifera (creeping)

5. P. subulata (moss)

6. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)

2

1

3

4

5

6

Medium Shade Perennials

1. Astilbe

2. Daylily

3. Jacob’s Ladder

4. Lady’s Mantle

5. False Solomon’s Seal

6. Bleeding Heart

7. Spiderwort

8. Spotted Deadnettle

1

2

4

3

5

7

8

Full Shade

Perennials1. Coral bells

2. Japanese painted

fern

(Athyrium x)

3. Hosta

4. Sedges

1

2

3

4

Annuals

Begonia (sun to part shade)

Impatiens (light to full shade)

Lobelia (part sun to full sun)

Medallion flower (Melampodium paludosum – full sun

to part shade)

Salvia (full sun to light shade)

Coleus (part shade)

Viola (pansies, Johnny-jump-ups – shade)

Fuchsia (part sun to full sun)

Ground Covers

Deadnettle (Lamium

maculatum)

Excellent ground cover

for shaded areas

Prefers moist, well

drained soil

Part to full shade

Pest free

Lift and divide

overgrown plants

Can be aggressive

Cultivars: Beacon Silver,

White Nancy

Lenten Rose (Helleborus x

Hybridus) Partial to full shade, moist, well-

drained alkaline soil

Plants are evergreen

Prune off dead leaves in late

winter or mow for complete

renewal

Can reseed heavily, flowers

about 3rd year

Lily-of-the-Valley

(Convallaria majalis)

Caution: can be

aggressive in garden,

invasive near woodlands

Prefer moist, well

drained soil

Part to full shade

Not a good choice in a

garden setting

Plants under trees

benefit from a yearly

application of fertilizer in

early spring

Moneywort (Lysimachia

nummularia)

Aggressive

Tolerate wide range of

conditions, prefers

shade with moist to wet

organic soil

Minimal fertilizer needed

Monitor planting,

pruning back and

pulling plants that have

overgrown space

Try ‘Aurea’ for less

aggressive nature

Moss Gardens

Moss grows best in

shade or part shade

Acidic soil (pH 5.0 to

6.0)

No fertilizing necessary

Cut, move, keep moist

for 3 weeks to

transplant

Sedges (Carex sp.)

Cool season, 2-4’

Upright, open

Average to wet soils, light to

full shade

Good alternative to lawn

grasses in the shade

Cultivars:

1. Carex grayi, Gray’s sedge

2. Carex muskingumensis, Palm

sedge ‘Little Midge’ and

‘Oehme’

3. Carex morrowii ‘Bowles

Golden’ and ‘Ice Dance’

1

2

3

PerennialsPLANT PROFILES

Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s

Mantle)

Part to light shade, can

tolerate full shade and

full sun

Late spring to summer

Good cut flower

Freely self-seeds, so

deadhead if that is not

wanted

Can use as a ground

cover

Deer resistant

Aquilegia hybrids

(Columbine)

Aquilegia canadensis –

native

Full sun to part shade

Low-maintenance

plants, easily self-seed,

remove faded flowers to

encourage rebloom and

present self-seeding

Short-lived, foliage dies

back by mid-summer

then cut to ground

Deer Resistant

Astilbe

Part shade to filtered

light

Tolerate heavy shade,

deer & rabbits

Moisture loving and

need fertilization (in

spring before growth

begins and fall)

Good cut flower & dried

seed heads can last all

winter, let foliage stand

all winter to increase

hardiness

Brunnera macrophylla

(Siberian bugloss)

Part shade, can use as a

ground cover

Easy to grow, needs

consistent moisture and

leaves may scorch in

hot sunshine

Deer Resistant

Photo: Missouri Botanical Garden

Cimicifuga spp.

(Bugbane, snakeroot or Black Cohash)

Part to full shade, likes

moist soil

Best if protected from

wind, flower spikes 4-5 ft.

Native plant

Bugbane is in reference

to the odoriferous insect

repellant properties of

this plant

Deer Resistant

Dicentra spp. (Bleeding

heart)

Part to full shade

Can use flowers for

cutting

Low maintenance, keep

moist

Remove faded flowers

to encourage longer

bloom period &

discourage reseeding

Leaves will yellow and

go dormant in July

Deer resistant

Geranium spp.

(Cranesbill)

Full sun to part shade,

moist conditions but will

tolerate some drought

Foliage may be lightly

sheared back and

shaped to revitalize after

flowering

Photo: Missouri Botanical Gardens

Ferns Cultivars for full sun to full shade

Large (3 feet)

Ostrich (Matteuccia tructhiopteris)

Bracken (Pteridium aquilnum)

Cinnamon (Osmunda cinnamomea)

Interrupted (Osmunda claytoniana)

Intermediate (12 to 36 inches)

Maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum)

Spinulose woodfern (Dryopteris carthusiana)

Oak (Gymnocarpium dryopteris)

Small (4 to 12 inches)

Bulblet (Cystopteris bulbifera)

Fragile (Cystopteris fragilis)

Heuchera spp.

(Coralbells)

Sun to full shade, but

perform best in part-

shade with moist, well-

drained soil

Can be subject to frost

heaving, check in spring

and replant the crown

just below the soil

surface

Deer Resistant

Hosta

Low maintenance, quick

growing

Variety of leaf sizes, shapes,

colors, and textures

Best leaf color in partial

shade, avoid afternoon sun

Option: remove flowers as

they sprout or as flowers

fade

Divide anytime during

growing season

Ligularia spp. (Ragwort)

Part to full shade, large

leafed, must have moist

soils that never dry out.

Can tolerate wet soil

and heavy shade

Deer Resistant

Photo: Missouri Botanical Garden

Maianthemum (false

Solomon’s Seal) Native to moist

woodlands

Part Shade, Intolerant of

dry soils, spreads by

creeping rhizomes

White flowers give way

to fruit that start green

and mature to reddish

black

Propagate by division in

early autumn or by seed

Photo: Missouri Botanical Garden

Polemonium spp. (Jacob’s

ladder)

Part shade to shade

Blooms late spring to

midsummer

Freely self-seeds

Variegated cultivars

Photo: Missouri Botanical Garden

Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

Part to full shade, soils

must not be allowed to

dry out

Avoid full sun or leaves

will scorch or wilt

Spreads very slowly by

creeping roots

Deer resistant

Photo: Missouri Botanical Gardens

Rodgersia

Zone 4, full sun to part

shade, medium to wet

soil

Deadhead spent flowers

after bloom

3-5 ft tall and wide,

leaves can be 12 inches

across

Photo: Missouri Botanical Gardens

Shrubs

Hydrangea

Cornus (dogwood)

Forsythia

Viburnums

Ilex (Winterberry)

Peony

Rhododendrons

Spiraea

Witch hazel

Vines

Wisteria

Clematis

Lonicera x heckrottii

(Goldflame

Honeysuckle)

Resources

Designing and Planting a Woodland Garden,

Keith Wiley

The Natural Shade Garden, Ken Druse

The Living Landscape, Dick Darke & Doug Tallamy

Bringing Nature Home, Doug Tallamy

The American Woodland Garden & The Wild Garden, Dick Darke

The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden, Roy Diblik

Thank You

Sue Reinardy

UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer

North Country Master Gardeners

www.northcountrymgv.org