The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson

The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson

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The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson
The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson
Planting ideas for shady spots

Planting ideas for shady spots

The simplest combinations for tricky garden areas and another 5-Plant Recipe

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Jo Thompson
May 29, 2025
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The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson
The Gardening Mind by Jo Thompson
Planting ideas for shady spots
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cottage garden plants in a shady garden
A shady garden spot. Photo: Jason Ingram

There was a secret spot in the Glasshouse garden, right at the very back but which could still be seen if you positioned yourself carefully. It was a spot which I felt was really special, however consigned to the back it was - it’s a spot that many of us have in our gardens and simply don’t know what to do with.

The shady garden spot - if you have one of these, I’ve a couple of solutions:

You may be ignoring this forlorn area, or you may be tearing your hair out - either way, there are ways that you can transform an annoying part of the garden into something truly magical, calm - serene, even. In itself, the focus on the different greens and muted colours which love the shade, creates a relaxing atmosphere.

For general design ideas, do read this: Garden design challenges - easy ways to deal with a shady garden.

Once you’ve got some ideas for how the arrangement of the space could look, the next thing to do is focus on the planting. I promise you that despite your doubts, it can be really, really pretty:

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