Shade Garden Planting instructios

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Shade Garden Planting instructios

Courville’s Shade Garden –Planting & 3-Year Care Guide

A simple woodland garden design using hardy perennials that thrive in shade and return stronger each year.

Tools You Will Need

  • Garden shovel or spade
  • Hand trowel
  • Garden rake
  • Tape measure
  • Watering hose or watering can
  • Wheelbarrow or bucket
  • Garden gloves
  • Mulch (shredded hardwood recommended)

Before You Plant (Site Preparation)

1. Choose the right location

  • Partial to full shade (morning sun is ideal)
  • Protected from harsh afternoon sun

2. Prepare the soil

  • Loosen soil 8–12 inches deep
  • Mix in compost or organic matter
  • Ensure soil is moist but well-draining

3. Lay out your plants (VERY IMPORTANT)

  • Place plants on top of soil firstbefore digging
  • Follow height layering
    1. Back:Astilbe, Ferns, larger Hostas
    2. Middle:Coral Bells, Lungwort
    3. Front:Foam Flower, Japanese Forest Grass
  • Step back and adjust spacing before planting

This is where beginners succeed or fail—layout before digging

Planting Instructions (Day 1)

  • 1. Dig holes 2x as wideas root balls
  • 2. Keep plant crowns level with soil surface
  • 3. Space plants properly:
    1. Hosta: 24–36 inches
    2. Astilbe: 18–24 inches
    3. Heuchera / Lungwort: 12–18 inches
    4. Groundcovers: 10–14 inches
  • 4. Backfill with soil + compost mix
  • 5. Water deeply immediately after planting
  • 6. Apply 2–3 inches of mulch(keep away from stems)

Year 1–“Sow” (Establishment Phase)

What to Expect:

  • Garden will look small and spaced out
  • Focus is on root development, not size

Care:

Watering

  • 2–3 times per week (more during heat)
  • Keep soil consistently moist—not soggy

Mulching

  • Maintain mulch layer to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Weeding

  • Light, consistent weeding prevents competition

Do NOT:

  • Overcrowd
  • Over-fertilize
  • Expect full size

This year is about patience—roots before beauty

Year 2–“Grow” (Expansion Phase)

What to Expect:

  • Plants begin to fill in significantly
  • Stronger foliage and more blooms

Care:

Watering

  • 1–2 times per week once established

Feeding

  • Light compost top-dressing in spring

Maintenance

  • Cut back dead foliage inearly spring
  • Divide fast growers if needed (Heuchera, Foam Flower)

Mulch refresh

  • Reapply mulch annually

Garden begins to look intentional and designed

Year 3–“Show” (Maturity Phase)

What to Expect:

  • Full, lush, layered shade garden
  • Plants begin touching and forming masses

Care:

Thinning & Dividing (CRITICAL)

  • Divide:
    1. Hostas
    2. Heuchera
    3. Foam Flower
  • Prevent overcrowding

Watering

  • Only during dry periods

Pruning

  • Remove spent blooms (Astilbe, etc.)
  • Clean up in late fall or early spring

This is where your garden reaches its true visual impact

Fall Care (Every Year)

  • Remove diseased or damaged foliage
  • Leave some plant material for winter protection
  • Add fresh mulch before winter
  • Do NOT heavily cut everything down—protect roots

Winter Expectations

  • Plants go dormant (this is normal)
  • Roots continue developing underground
  • Snow cover helps insulate plants

The Courville Philosophy

  • Year 1: SowYear
  • 2: GrowYear
  • 3: Show

A great garden is not built in a season—it is built through time,patience, and proper spacing.

Why This Shade Garden Works

  • Layered heights create structure
  • Foliage contrast (Hosta, Heuchera, Ferns) adds depth
  • Early + mid-season bloomers provide continuous interest
  • Designed specifically for Fairfield County shade conditions
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