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Understanding Shade

HmmmmmmmHmmmmmmm Posts: 13
edited February 2022 in Plants
Hello all - Im trying to understand what shade means exactly. This is our fence (see pic). The sun goes from left to right behind the fence all morning so the fence is shading the flower bed. In the afternoon it gets direct sun from the right side for an hour or two maximum. Then it gets shaded again by buildings. Its also a narrow bed - 1meter wide. Maybe we can stretch a bit more to 1.5m. We are Zone 7. 

So questions please - Is this defined as deep shade or light shade (since it gets some direct sun and is open to the sky)? Also any ideas what to plant here. Also I wanted some height to not be overlooked from the road. I was originally going to plant Bamboo in a raised bed but I dont think they will like it here. So Thuja? Some sort of shade conifer? I was also thinking Viburnum or some tall shrub? Also non toxic for dogs. My dog will eat anything!

Thanks
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  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I have Thuja plicata growing in shade, receiving less than an hour of sun in the morning, and it's fine.  It would no doubt grow more quickly in full sun but it suits the situation I have, more than any other hedging plant would.  It will make an attractive, green screen for you and won't poison the dog, as confirmed by this article:  Thuja plicata - BBC Gardeners World Magazine 

    It's a much better choice than bamboo which prefers full sun and can be problematic unless the variety is chosen carefully.  I hope this helps. 
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Is it just a hedge you want , or a mixed border?
    Most hedging will be fine in semi shade, which is really just an area that has around four or five hours of sun a day [ defined by summer conditions] or alternatively, is shaded by other planting most, or a large part of, the time. 

    I'd take a look at this thread about bamboo started recently - just to give you an idea of the potential problems  ;)
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1062175/running-or-clumping-bamboo#latest
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Have tweaked your pic.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • HmmmmmmmHmmmmmmm Posts: 13
    Silver surfer said:
    Have tweaked your pic.
    thanks
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Whilst Bamboo can be problematic for other reasons, it does not require full sun, you often see it growing in fairly dense woodland.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • HmmmmmmmHmmmmmmm Posts: 13
    punkdoc said:
    Whilst Bamboo can be problematic for other reasons, it does not require full sun, you often see it growing in fairly dense woodland.
    Yeah it says part sun in the guides but what does that mean. In my situation with 1/2 hrs max direct sun is that enough?
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Most plants just need light rather than sunlight. I expect you'll find things - including the evergreens - will grow at an angle, away from the fence, into the light, apart from real shade lovers, so I would treat it as 'full shade'. Plants with big leaves may scorch a bit in the sunshine, especially if they happen to be wet when the sun hits them. I would have thought bamboo would do OK but you may need to stake it a bit to stop it leaning forward
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Personally l would avoid bamboo for various reasons, but if you want to go with that it may be worth considering some sort of barrier to contain the roots. Even the "clumping" varieties will spread to a degree.
    The thuja hedge would give you an evergreen background and if it's getting that amount of sunshine at this time of year l would think it would be fine. As @Plantminded says, it doesn't need to be sun drenched.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Most bamboos prefer (not require!) full sun.  There are some, like Fargesia, that do prefer shade but they are slower growing and do not tend to reach the height of the commonly grown sun loving species like Phyllostachys, often recommended for hedges. 

    I grow three varieties of the latter in my garden but they get over four hours of full sun a day in summer.  I grow them as specimen plants, rather than hedges, and they are closely monitored because of their innate tendency to run and eventually form a grove!  I spent ten years in the tropics as a child and have witnessed this happening very quickly! 

    I wouldn't recommend any sun loving, running bamboo in your situation but you could try one of the Fargesia varieties which tend to be clump forming. They have slimmer canes and more delicate foliage.  I grow two varieties of these in shade and they are very attractive as specimen plants but they are slow growing.

    The Thuja will be well behaved and won't lean towards the light.  It is easy to grow, easy to maintain and it won't invade the pathway alongside your fence!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    ''Understanding Shade'' would make a cracking title for a poetry collection.
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