Customer Reviews

Making the Most of Shade: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow a Fabulous Garden that Lightens up the Shadows

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book for anyone who has a lot of shade and don't know what to do with it or for those who are wanting shade! For those who already have shade, the author shows how you can have a fabulous garden using a variety of plants that provide dramatic leaf structure and some that even flower. Of course not all shade is the same and the various types of shade are explained. Some typical problems concerning shade gardening, such as dry shade or excessive moist shade, is discussed as well. Over 300 plants are profiled individually in the last half of the book. For gardeners who want more shade, a list of shade trees and shrubs is provided. Most helpful is a section of shade garden designs based on various themes (Victorian, Japanese, Native, etc.).

MAKING THE MOST OF SHADE, Larry Hodgson offers hundreds of ideas about working with the trees you now have or actually creating shade. My all-time favorite book on shade gardening has been George Shenk's classic as it was he who first pointed out the virtues and sins of various trees and bushes regarding their roots and foliage, but one of the criticisms I have of Shenk's book is the dearth of color illustrations. Hodgson's book more than makes up for this shortcoming, and he adds enough text about each possible entry to actually inform the user. I have been shade gardening for some years now, and am in the position to say...yes, that works for me, or no, that is not something I can do.

For example, I tried Tiarella (Allegheny foamflower) a few years ago and failed probably owing to its sensitivity to the heat and light in my yard (as it's name implies this denizon of the forests prefers something other than the hot Virginia sun in July. Well, Hodgson says there are plenty of hybrid Tiarella plants "pushing" the original into the background". So even though I am careful about invasive vegetation and try to plant native or local fauna where possible, I will probably try the `Eco Running Tapestry' but only after I check with the local VA extension service. Those creeping stems in the new hybrids may not be the best thing in my garden, and Hodgson says the `Wherry' foamflower is a "natural that doesn't produce creeping stems" so I may try that again, now that I am a more experienced gardener and understand the value of mulching annually with leaf compost. I have Creeping Woodruff (Galium odoratum) coming out of my ears leaving few places to plant Tiarella. The Gallium is a wonderful carpet that dies back along August and smells like sweet bedstraw (its common name), so I am not likely to remove it. In the spring it mixes well with Solomon's Seal or "fairy bells" (Polygonatum), Astilbe, Hellebore, and bulbs. In early summer, the Hosta lillies look swell with the Galium.

I like this book very much, and it just might replace Shenk's book in my affections, although it never pays to own only one book on shade gardening.

I borrowed this book from the library, and found myself quoting from it so often at work (at a perennial nursery), that I've decided to buy it. What's more, I'm getting it not only for myself, but also for a friend and for my boss, who's very interested as she sells a lot of shade plants and has also just created a new shade garden.
I liked much about this book, especially the information on plant hardiness. Hodgson gardens in Canada in zone 3, but has much snow cover, and many plants thought not to be hardy that far north, are hardy for him. This matches my own experience.

Also, the information on how to establish plants in the root zone of large trees is excellent! As is the information on which trees make "good" partners for a shade garden.

Hodgson does not hesitate to recommend certain plants as "top performers".

Altogether a first rate book, useful to the novice and experienced alike.

This is the best book I ever bought. I'm a shade lover, due to easy care and most of all...hostas. Until I read Larrys comments on shade, I thought I was the only one who wished my entire yard was shade, and that I may be a lazy gardener. Not anymore! This book is packed full of great ideas for shade gardens, and lots of tips. Theres also plants biographies of those that do well in shade, and he continually reminds you that many "sun" plants do well in light shade. I enjoyed the section on starting a new garden from scratch. His sense of humor is great and its easy to read and well organized. This is a MUST HAVE for those that enjoy shade gardening, and for those who think shade is their enemy. You'll have a new respect for shade after reading this book.

Hodgson understands every beginner shade gardener or anyone whose property has the blessing of mature trees. He encourages a form of gardening that many consider a formidable challenge. I am not sure what I would have done without this book. The pictures, the text, and the information really makes this book a must-have for all.

As someone who lives in an urban area I had little choice in the amount of shade in my garden. I've found Hodgson's book to be an exciting read with lots of inspiring photos, plans, and useful tidbits. I did have a few disappointments with this book but they were pretty minor.

The small, close-up photos in the plant index are great for showing detail, but are not so great at giving the reader an idea of what the whole plant looks like, how it sits, whether it is compact or expansive, etc. As a beginning gardener I had to look elsewhere for more "in context" photos of the plants.

A chapter on shrubs for shade would also have been helpful.

These gripes aside, I've found this book to be a great help in designing my urban shade garden and would recommend to any beginner gardener looking for inspiration.

Just fenced off an area of our yard (we have a real deer problem). Now I have a wonderful new, shady, garden space just waiting for plants. Book is great because it covers everything from soil issues, to shade perennials, mixing in annuals and basic design elements for shade gardens. And it's written in a way that makes it a fun read during the winter when all you can do is prepare for spring.

A thoroughly detailed informed book for each plant mentioned in the book. Well worth buying.
Each feature goes into depth about the plant. The author knows his plants.Excellent purchase.

I'm not a gardener, but I need to learn about growing things in shady places. This book is wonderful, easy to read, pretty to look at, and simple enough for an uninformed person. At the same time, it has lots of good info that even an experienced gardener could learn.
I can hardly wait to get out into the dirt!

I have been very pleased with this book on shade gardening. It contains many good ideas for plants and layouts ... which is what I was looking for. I also found the information on soil preparation very helpful. =)