Maintenance Selecting the right plant Further reading Links Plants for shade gardens Improving growing conditions Of course, it is best to choose plants that are suited to the different sites in your yard. You can improve growing conditions, though, by improving the soil and pruning trees.
Most shade plants prefer slightly acidic soil with lots of organic matter.
It is a good idea to improve your soil by working in 5 to 10 cm of compost. Whenever you add new soil, use a mixture of equal parts garden loam, potting soil and peat moss. You can also build raised beds to solve drainage problems. In extreme cases, you may wish to add an underground drainage system. It is not always easy to work the soil around a tree.