In the last two weeks besides being asked what to do about Japanese beetles I am getting bombarded with questions about what to plant in the shade besides hosta. True enough there are only so many different types of green hosta that you can plant in the shade and this is where Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum…
Tag: shady areas
Barrenwort For A Barren Space
Barrentwort or Epimedium (e-pi-MEE-di-um) is a perennial that is often overlooked for the garden. As the name implies it thrives in barren locations. This is one of the few plants that can tolerate and grow in dry shade. The flowers are amazing and thanks to new introductions such as Epimedium x rubrum (picture shown in…
Right Plant, Right Place
By now, many garden enthusiasts are familiar with the phrase, Right Plant, Right Place (RPRP). Yet, still many others are not. Our Master Gardeners talk with them every day. Whichever camp you fall into, a brief primer can be helpful. RPRP is a guiding principle whose only goal is to achieve success with every tree,…
Tough Places to Grow Turf
As versatile as lawn grasses may be, there are many locations where they just won’t flourish. In general, a lawn needs at least 5 hours of sun each day, a large uninterrupted area, well-drained soil, and a relatively flat grade or slightly rolling topography. Slopes, shade, compacted soils, heavy foot traffic, and poor air circulation…