I have a backyard that is mostly shady (60% of day) and is under very large evergreen trees. The trees also produce a lot of sap that drips into our backyard. We can't do anything about the trees because they are on the neighbors property but we would like to plant something and design our backyard. Any suggestions fir what we can do? we are worried about the sap killing things as well as the trees drinking most of the water? Will grass survive in this situation?
Native ferns planted in cluster would look nice and give you a woodsy effect, also hosta, spring bulbs like lily of the valley, snow drops come to mind. Not sure how the sap will effect these plants but give it a go if you think these are good ideas.
I have azaleas under a tree in my garden. They seem to be fine in that part shade location. There's a wide variety of azaleas available for you to choose from.
I live in a tree-protected development started in 1980 or so and now built up, called Broadmead, in Saanich, north of Victoria. The trees are thick and immense, mainly evergreen, with of course ornamentals. Gardens are difficult, unless one lives in a rare sunny spot at the top of a hill, where the homes and gardens are often done in a Mediterranean style which suits Victoria's clear summer air and long sunny summers. However, and that is a big however, the rest of us live down in the shady nooks -- I see mainly rhododendrons, azaleas, and various shade-garden plantings which can be found in any Pacific Northwest Gardening book [consult your local librarian, if you live in a rural area or small town your library can bring them in for you on inter-library loan], and since the development has long had many small parks and trails winding through it, the general gardening style is totally just woodsy... some homeowners with lots of money do groom shade-grass lawns using professional landscapers... many, however, just grow various low shrubs and groundcovers with paths winding through them, with the tall trees overhead. Many of the single homes have high balconies which jut out western-style over the trees, or what used to be "over" the trees in the beginning, now "in" the treetops. It is beautiful, in its unique way, but hard to do traditional gardening. I might suggest you do some serious reading on shade gardening for the Pacific Northwest. You may be disappointed if you try growing sun-loving plants under those trees. There are many options for shade gardens, some responders may list a few. I am not an expert, so I won`t attempt to do that. I grow various dwarf conifers; then, I have rhodos, azaleas, some semi-shade shrubs which seem to do ok like weigela and forsythia and bridal wreath spirea and pearlbush... these latter few bloom nicely. For perennial small plants astilbes with their spires of various whites, pinks, roses and reds are lovely in shade, and I grow sweet woodruff, a sort of groundcover about 6 inches high, a little higher when in bloom in white flowers, which do well in shade. And a few other things... I have a bit of sun as townhouse developments usually have fewer trees crowded in, although there is still plenty of shade here.
