A SHADE LOVING GARDEN

AREAS WHERE GRASS DOESNT GROW:

With construction happening all around us, gardens which used to get sun no longer do so.. it’s blocked by the 4 storey building which has come up opposite the house, or the sun is blocked by a tree that you are not allowed to prune. Grass not growing is a sad complaint by people who love lawns. But the solution to this is NOT to pave it... neither is it to spread some toxic artificial grass in that area. Leave undulating borders along the length and width of the lawn for a lush boundary plantation. It should have preferably 3 layers of plantation... small medium and large. There should be some depth in the plantation to creat a rich tapestry of different coloured perineal plants. Then embed Himachal white slate tiles in the soil without any cement and grow some ground cover in the joints to make the space come alive. Dwarf grass grown in between the tiles does very well. Use of white slate rather than the common black slate is important because it brings light into a shaded dark garden.

SOIL CONTENT & WATERING

The soil should have enough leaf compost and well decomposed cow dung. Please add cocopeat to create a light Porus mixture.

Water only when the soil turns dry. Gardens in the shade take time to dry out. Excess water will only lead to the roots rotting.

Maali’s job profile will be to water the garden only once or twice a week and he should turn the soil at least once a week to prevent green mossy patches. Also in the winter, a light sprinkling of water on the leaves, first thing in the morning. will wash away the deadly night frost on the leaves.

NURSERY SHOPPING FOR A SHADY GARDEN:

Sometimes one goes to a nursery and we will ask if the plant will survive in the sun or shade .. you will be asked आपको कहाँ रखना है । if you say sun they will say it will be fine in the sun. If you say shade they say it will be fine in the shade as well. Or they will say थोढ़ी धूप थोढ़ी छाँव में चलेगा! That is the half truth. Most perineals will do well in the morning sun. So anytime in doubt as to whether you have to put a plant in the sun or shade, simply put it in the morning sun. It will be fine. And when you go to a nursery see where the plants have been stored. If they are under the green net then regardless of what the salesperson tells you, those plants are meant only for the shade or at best morning sun or for indoors and you probably have to protect them from the winter frost as well. Also choose from the plants that they have in large numbers... those are likely to survive the most. If they have only 20 delicate looking plants you have never seen before in various shades of pink and purple then please do not buy them unless you feel like a challenge... Be warned that you are taking a liability home.

Do send pictures and questions if at all you need any help.