Alliance for a Living Ocean

2007 Long Beach Boulevard
North Beach Haven, New Jersey 08008
(609) 492-0222

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Shade

by Gretchen F. Coyle

If shade were a commodity, it would be quite costly in the summer. No one thinks about shade until it becomes terribly hot. It is easy to become broiled to extreme by the sun, not to mention the risk of skin cancer. A hot house that is not air-conditioned can be a very unpleasant place to be. "Wish we had some shade around our home," is a refrain I often hear.--

Shady areas of trees or high bushes are imperative around any house, not only in the summer, but also in the winter to protect from our high seashore winds. Japanese pines grow quickly as do native Russian Olive bushes. Beach Plums, Bayberry, Hollies and Cedar trees take a bit longer. Trellises covered with climbing roses can provide some shade. Even a strategically placed fencing (most zoning laws in our area prohibit fences higher than 4 feet except around a pool, so check) can provide much needed shade. Awnings are another way to keep a house cool. Privacy is also a priority with many homeowners; vacant lots are quickly becoming developed.

Allow places for furniture when laying out your shady areas. Lazy afternoons can be spent reading on a comfortable bench or Adirondack chairs strategically placed on a bed of pine needles. Brick patios are instant entertainment centers. Landscaping these areas is easy and low maintenance. It is thought that shade plants have fewer bugs. Certainly they need less watering. Shade-loving Impatiens are available in most every color. Add some Dusty Miller and Ivy for contrast and you have an instant garden. Dashes of Coleus, annual Vinca and Lobelia add deep color, as do Ageratum and Salvias. Hostas are available in all shades of green; while rather dull, they always look neat and are impossible to kill. The same is true for Pachysandra.

We all have many half-day shade areas that thrive with Honeysuckle, Bittersweet, Lilies and Astilbes. In the spring, my partial shady areas are filled with perennials such as Bleeding Heart, Bluebells, Primroses and Columbine. After these are finished blooming, unusual herbs such as Lemon, Thyme and Chocolate mint, pop up in the spaces.

Under my awnings, I fill window boxes with multi-colored tuberous hanging Begonias that delight me from June until the first frost. Intersperse with Ivy. For a neat look, mulch well under pine trees (taking care not to pile too much up against the tree itself) before adding plants. Excess pine needles can be used to your advantage. We use ours, plus all our neighbors' to lay a "floor" around our grandchildren's playhouse, a shady area situated in a grove of Japanese pines. Little hardened feet run around on it, pinecones and all. In this area, we have brick walkways with small areas of perennials outlined in rocks.

Besides planting in beds, large pots can be used as colorful accents. Lightweight plastic pots are almost indistinguishable from the real terra cotta. Mix and match from all the above-mentioned plants for a true variety. I am continually combining different colors for a festive look. Some types of climbing roses can be grown over a trellis or fence to provide partial shade. Trumpet vine, Virginia Creeper, Bittersweet, Honeysuckle, and Wisteria will do the same.

The need for the MOP centers around nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, which has been identified as a critical factor in the Barnegat Bay Watershed ecosystem. A watershed- based approach is essential to address the NPS problem. Encouraging municipalities to plan outside of their township boundary will help foster a watershed-based mind-set for decision-making. It will increase the health of the entire watershed, not just isolated pockets.

Shady areas left unattended look bleak. Plain dirt or gravel is most uninteresting. Be creative: make a brick patio, a garden outlined with bog iron, or even an all green bed with a birdbath in the center. Fill up those shady areas with bright flowers. Create a rest spot with Pine needles accented with pots of annuals. An old wheelbarrow filled with pots is eye-catching. Your local garden center probably has a special area for shade plants. Sprinkle with a couple handfuls of Osmocote (a natural timed-release fertilizer) when you are through. The Gardens Alive catalogue (www.gardens_alive.com or call 812-537-8650) has "Flowers Alive" which is another excellent additive.