Got Shade? A Take It Easy Approach for Today's Gardener

She discusses hundreds of shade-tolerant plants hardy in Zones 4-8, suggests how they may be used and combined, and recommends methods to cut garden maintenance. With its informative text, accurate drawings, and colorful photographs, this book is a "must have" for gardeners across much of North America."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights ReservedWhether it's urban, suburban, or rural, nearly every property has some shade, if only on the north side of the house. Countless more are "blessed" with giaint trees planted decades ago that screen out the sunlight. Under such conditions, you may think it is impossible to have an interesting garden without a lot of work. Not so, if you are willing to learn about the plethora of easygoing horticultural gems that do NOT require full sun.Shade gardening has been given a bum rap. Most gardeners think only of impatiens and hostas for their shady areas. This is partly the fault of many nurseries, which sell the same dull plant material year after year ad nauseum. Contrary to these tired notions, shade gardening can get pretty exciting, yet at the same time not be too larbor-intensive, if you incorporate some lesser known plants into your landscape. This is not to say you shouldn't plant some old standbys. But a judicious mixture of the common with the unusual can give the busy, tired, or lazy gardener a very special and unique place to retreat to and enjoy.Harstad's organization takes account of the fact that an interesting shade garden is well balanced, with different types of plantings. First come two chapters on designing the low-maintenance garden, then chapters on small trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, vines, ground covers, ferns, grasses, perennials, woodland wildflowers, spring bulbs, and annuals (yes, there are annuals that enjoy shade!).She discusses hundreds of shade-tolerant plants hardy in Zones 4-8, suggests how they may be used and combined, and recommends methods to cut garden maintenance-a universal concern in the fast-paced world. With its informative text, accurate drawings, and colorful photographs, it is a "must have" for gardeners across much of North America.Before buying even one more plant--be it tree, shrub, perennial, or annual--you need this bookWhether it's urban, suburban, or rural, nearly every properly has some shade, if only on the north side of the house. Countless more are "blessed" with giant trees planted decades ago that screen out the sunlight. Under such conditions, you may think that it's impossible to have an interesting garden without a lot of work. Not so if you are willing to learn about the plethora of easygoing horticultural gems that don't require full sun. Most gardeners think only of impatiens and hostas for their shady areas, but shade gardening can be far more interesting, and even exciting--and you need not work too hard at it if you incorporate some lesser-known but easy-to-grow plants into your landscape. Judiciously mixing the common plants with the more unusual ones can help the busy, tired, or lazy gardener create a special and unique retreat. Carolyn Harstad, author of the best-selling "Go Native!, organizes this book around the principle that an interesting shade garden is well balanced and has a variety of plantings. Early chapters focus on designing the low-maintenance garden. Further chapters discuss small trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, vines, ground covers, ferns, grasses, perennials, woodland wildflowers, spring bulbs, and annuals (yes, there "are annuals that enjoy shade!). She discusses hundreds of shade-tolerant plants hardy in Zones 4-8, suggests how they may be used and combined, and recommends methods to reduce garden maintenance--a universal concern in this fast-paced world. With its informative text, accurate drawings, and colorful photographs, this book is a "must have" for gardeners across much of North America.