Shade is not one condition. Dry shade under a maple is a different problem from damp shade between two houses.
Dry shade
Under mature trees, roots take the water before anything else does. Plants have to tolerate both low light and competition — hostas, epimedium, tough ferns and some spreading groundcovers.
Damp shade
Side yards with little sun and poor drainage. Fix the water first, then plant what tolerates moisture rather than fighting it.
Do not fight the tree
Cutting roots to make a bed damages the tree and rarely helps the planting. Raised beds over root zones suffocate them. Work with a thin soil layer and shade-adapted plants instead.
Use foliage, not flowers
Shade planting that relies on flower colour disappoints. Leaf texture, size and tone carry the whole season.
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ReadFree estimate
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