NEW hardcover

Southern Shade: A Plant Selection Guide Kellum, Jo

Figuring out what to grow in the shade is challenge enough Throw in factors that affect southern gardeners, and the topic becomes as thorny as wild blackberry Shade varies at different times of day, and gardeners need to take this into account Shade changes from season to season, too, even within the same yard In Southern Shade: A Plant Selection Guide, landscape expert Jo Kellum takes the mystery out of the murky parts of the yardSome plants desire rich, moist soil, decaying leaves, and just a bit of sunlight that filters through leafy tree canopies Others need shade all day long Still, others thrive in morning shade, followed by afternoon sun or the reverse Sometimes the soil beneath trees can be notoriously dry where tree roots absorb all the available moisture Jo Kellum lets gardeners know what to grow in the gloom and illustrates her choices with over two hundred color photographsHomeowners need advice about landscaping workhorses for the shadetrees, shrubs, groundcovers, and vinesin addition to annuals and perennials Unfortunately, shade gardening seems to apply mainly to dainty plants that dont solve the problem of how to fill a wet, shadowy spot or how to block the view of the neighbors air conditioning unitSouthern Shade helps the gardener pick the right plant for the right kind of shady area There are recommendations for little flowers, big trees, and everything in between Jo Kellums advice is simple for beginners, yet complete enough for professionals It makes an ideal companion when shoppingFor those facing both shade and sun and looking for ideas suitable for sunny spots, Kellum has also written Southern Sun: A Plant Selection Guide