Overview

The Shade Garden is situated on the north side of the Dane County Extension office building along the foundation.  The garden offers many ideas about how to brighten up shady areas with interesting foliage colors, textures and shapes.  Over 170 cultivars of shade-loving plants are on display, including an range of unusual flowering plants "made for shade".

Shade Garden Team

Team members learn about perennials and woody plants that grow well in full shade or dappled shade.  Other learning opportunities include: 

• plant division and transplanting (timing and techniques)
• pruning techniques (numerous specimen trees in the garden)
• how to cut back different species of hydrangeas
• ground hugging shade plants that reduce mulching needs
• diagnosing and managing pest problems (jumping worms and slugs primarily)
• preventing hosta damage from deer 
• diagnosing and managing disease problems (monitoring Japanese maples for verticilium wilt)

To join the Shade Garden team, contact Karen Allenstein. 2024 team members include:

Clare Altschuler, 1st year

Nancy Fonzen, 6th year

Barb Park, 9th year

Sarah Swanson, 5th year

Matthew Whiting, 7th year

 

Content produced through:

       Dane County UWEX Master Gardener Volunteer Program 

       Questions?  

       Dane County UWEX Horticulture Program