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What kind of shade is this?

FoxwillowFoxwillow Posts: 50
in Problem solving
On the southern boundary of our garden, we have a bed that is shaded by some conifers in our garden and our neighbour's, and two sycamores (to the east and south). I'm wanting to plant an additional evergreen tree to provide more interesting colours/foliage but I'm not sure what type of shade I have to be able to make the right choice.

The front of the bed, where I want to plant, gets about an hour of direct sun earlier than 11am (but it wasn't sunny enough the day I took the pictures), then the top of the plant would be in sun for another hour split between late morning and before sunset.  The 4pm photo shows dappled light coming through from behind the bed - which it should be able to get more of if I am to remove the bush that's currently there.  I've included what it looks like on a cloudy day.

In winter, the plant would get more morning sun when the sycamore to the east loses its leaves.

So, where I've got the red dot, what do you think I have?

From the RHS:
  1. Light shade: A site that is open to the sky, but screened from direct sunlight by an obstacle, such as a high wall or group of trees.
  2. Moderate shade: A site receiving sunlight for two or three hours of direct sunlight each day at midsummer. In this case too midday sun supplies significantly more light and might almost be considered a form of partial shade.
  3. Deep or heavy shade: Usually under dense tree cover, e.g. beech, conifer hedges or overgrown shrubberies, and also overhanging buildings. In practical terms if a site receives less than two hours of direct sun per day, it must be considered to be heavy shade.

Posts

  • scooty883scooty883 Posts: 34
    https://pin.it/5wu6FxN hope the link works for shade perennials 👍
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Moderate (more on the deep side of middle) shade.  Full shade plants would be ideal in that location.. since any direct or dappled sun is from the horizon.  I find most full shade plants always perform better with a bit of morning or bright dappled light anyways, and will do better than than a part-shade plant.  

    Great job on your documentation of the location, and information in your post!  
    Utah, USA.
  • ThepoplarsThepoplars Posts: 1
    edited June 2021
    Thanks for the link Scooty.  I’m using a lot of Hostas in the bed around the various laurels, rhododendrons and hydrangeas. 

    I’ve been obsessively watching what the light has been doing all along this border and trying to match the plants Blue Onion hence the detail.  I was hoping someone would convince me the shade isn’t that bad so I can get the plant I really want but I think I would say the same if it was someone else’s garden 😊

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    What plant do you want to put in there?
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    For that location, I'd say you need to look at plants that like almost full shade, although many that like dappled shade would also be fine. 
    However, the biggest challenge will be the soil. There's a lot of hefty trees nearby which will be huge competition for moisture especially, but also nutrients, so it won't be easy getting something to establish and thrive, especially another evergreen tree.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FoxwillowFoxwillow Posts: 50
    Blue Onion and Fairy Girl: Ideally, I’d like a Fairy White Magnolia. Mostly for the eventual height, shape, and evergreen-ness but the flowers would be a bonus. 

    I know there’s a risk of how it will compete with what’s there already. This border (which is about 10ft deep) falls away and we’ve been gradually raising it using turf and soil dug out of borders from other areas of the garden - which was originally a market garden before our house was built.  Anything that we decide on will be planted with a lot of compost added too - ericaceous if we use a magnolia. There is a soaker pipe on order to hook up to the water butt and help with watering the whole border and I will be taking out the Snowberry that’s there. So, I’ll do my best to support whatever is planted to get established.  

    Our neighbours are building a garage a few metres away on the other side of the fence and I want to plant something that helps to hide it without becoming too large, or requiring too much maintenance, and blocking light out of the garden. If you can suggest alternatives that get to around 4-5m tall and 2-3m wide, I’d be very happy to consider them.  The soil is neutral and we have rhododendrons and a magnolia growing happily and I assume without additional help as the original owners weren’t keen gardeners. There is a very leggy 3m high Holly at the back of the border which is virtually bare stem up to 2m. Now that it is above the fence, it is starting to grow well and I’ve pruned a number of the higher branches to encourage some filling out - so I don’t want to put another Holly in this area. I’ve planted Laurels, Aucuba, Garrya and Photinia in the bed and they are doing well I’d prefer to have something different and, ideally grows quickly to its final height. I know that may be wishful thinking but someone might know of the perfect plant 😊
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