Before and After ~ The Woodland Shade Garden

BEFORE
The Challenge ~ Make this overgrown heavily shaded area with a high tree canopy look like a natural woodland setting with shade-loving hostas, ferns and other perennials.
While the ivy and vinca ground cover was at least green, Dwight felt like it was way too invasive to incorporate into a woodland perennial garden and Andrea agreed.



Needed to find a way to hide the utility boxes at the back of the property too.








The Process ~ This was a very large project which included clearing out the ground cover and old shrubbery and having some of the trees trimmed up to remove dead growth.


The Inside-Out Design crew did all of the clearing and planted the shrubbery which will hopefully grow up and hide the utility boxes. We had saved all of the hostas from before so Dwight planted those throughout the area among the ferns and astilbe that Andrea had included in the shade garden.



AFTER
The Result ~ A beautiful shade garden with a natural woodland feel.
The wooden arbor was positioned to help hide the utility boxes and it also ties in with the neighbor's wooden fence. We used natural stone pavers as stepping stones leading to the arbor.




The Japanese Maple is a focal point at the entrance to the shade garden.


Here's the blue hosta that was moved from the bed it had outgrown. It looks in much better proportion here among the large trees.


We hung impatiens baskets from the trees to add color among the cool shade and positioned them so that the uplights spotlight them at night.



The results exceeded our expectations and will continue to delight us as the hydrangeas, ferns, astilbe and hostas grow to fill the area with shades of green, white, and deep pink.