Sunlight Requirements

• The ideal woodland garden sits in partial shade. Whether you have several large trees, one tree or just the shade from a neighbor's tree, you can have a delightful woodland garden. If possible, remove some of the lower branches so that the canopy is high to allow for small trees within the garden, but still provides partial shade.
  
  

Soil Requirements

• The best soil for your woodland garden is moderately loose and rich in organic matter. Loose soil can be difficult to achieve under large trees, which are water guzzlers and often leave the soil at their base dry. Working compost into the soil before you plant and spreading a layer of compost around the new plantings will help retain moisture. Remove surface tree roots to give the new plants room to stretch.
  
  

Ideal Plants

• When you are choosing plants for your shade garden, start with small trees such as American beech (Fagus grandifolia), dogwood (Cornus florida), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) or sassafras (Sassafras albidum). These smaller trees will grow fine under the canopy of larger trees, such as oaks. Add some shrubs. Azalea (Rhododendron), camellia (Camellia), and gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) add beautiful flowers as well as evergreen foliage. You might like the many varieties of holly (Ilex) for their interesting leaf shapes and berries.
  
  Trees and shrubs provide the structure for the woodland garden; add a variety of perennials, annuals and bulbs for year-round color and interest. Astilbe, begonia, bleeding heart (Dicentra), blue phlox (Phlox divaricata), ferns, foxglove (Digitalis), ginger lily (Hedychium), hosta and pansy (Viola) are just a few of the varieties available. Choose plants that will grow at varying heights and will bloom at different times of the year.
  
  

Tips for Success

• Consider placing a bench in the garden to provide a pleasant place to linger. Call your county extension service for native and heritage plants that do well in your area.