Text Box: shaded areas is poor air circulation. This, in combination w/ the lower light conditions, results in plants that stay wet longer and are therefore more susceptible to disease. Select disease resistant varieties and space plants farther apart to allow air movement. Remove lower tree limbs to improve circulation. Finally, it is imperative that you select plant material that will thrive in the shade. Some perennials that will tolerate light or partial shade include: ajuga, phlox divaricata, epimedium, polemonium, helleborus, astilbe, aquilegia, and platycodon. For deeper shade you can try: dicentra eximia, trillium grandiflorum, hosta, thalictrum, and ferns. Shade tolerant shrubs and trees include: Japanese quince, Juneberry, dogwood(C. albs var. siberica), redbud, wintercreeper, hydrangea, azalea, holly, yew, and rhododendron. Rhododendron maximum is the hardiest selection for deep shade. By combining interesting plant textures, sizes, shapes, colors, and forms you can create a beautiful shade garden. Text Box: June Newsletter Text Box: Monthly To-Do List · Water, water, water as necessary · Deadhead rhododendrons, lilacs, and perennials after flowering · Check for pests and other problems, and treat as necessary · Begin to spray roses every week to protect against blight · Continue to plant and transplant perennials · Continue to prune all plant material to remove diseased or weak wood · Prune evergreens and evergreen hedges into early summer · Continue deadheading roses and fertilize after peak bloom · Complete fertilizing spring-flowering bulbs Text Box: Feature Article: Shade Gardening Many gardeners are faced by the challenge of creating a garden with interesting plant composition in a location that lacks natural light. It is important first to establish exactly how shaded the area is, then determine the growing conditions – and finally make plant selections accordingly. Light shade is shaded but bright. It is completely shaded for only several hours a day. Partial or medium shade is an area that is blocked from the sun for most of the day, but receives some direct sun early or late in the day. Full shade lasts all day. Little or no direct sunlight reaches the ground at any time of the day. Light can be slightly increased in any area by selective pruning and by taking advantage of reflected light from light-colored surfaces. Once you establish the amount of light present you should evaluate the soil. Shade plants compete w/ roots of shading trees for nutrients and moisture and therefore they will benefit from the addition of organic matter to the soil. Organic matter loosens heavy clay soils and improves drainage. Another concern in Text Box: Nursery Services Inc. Text Box: Tree of the Month: Magnolia virginiana: Sweetbay Magnolia – 20’ height. Semi-evergreen, dark green glossy leaves, fragrant, creamy white flowers in June Shrub of the Month: Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’: Henry’s Garnet Sweetspire – 4’ height. Compact growing, outstanding foliage summer and fall, flowers up to 6” long, blooms June into July, brilliant scarlet fall color. Perennial of the Month: Paeonia lactiflora ‘Karl Rosenfield’: Karl Rosenfield Garden Peony. 2-3’ height. Red double flowers on strong stems contrast beautifully with the dark green foliage of this peony. Bloom May-June. Quote: Gardening is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it. ~Author Unknown You can look forward to learning more about “Growing in Dry Soil Areas” in our July issue!