Perennial Shade Plant Suggestions Needed

[ducks4you]

I KNOW that I said, "perennials", but...DD loves gladiolas, and ya know, they can come cheap in the Spring, and we're too cold to leave them in the ground. On the south outside of the fence I thought I might plant about a dozen of them, because they like to topple over. How would you attach them to the fence so that they stay upright and pretty?

 

[ducks4you]

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/ovgen/growing-plant-cover-fence.htm
hmmmm....maybe I should create even MORE shade...

 

[ducks4you]

Never mind. Most of these would climb the bricks, or rip up the sidewalks or never go away. I heard that trumpet vine is almost permanent!
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/trumpet-vine/growing-trumpet-vines.htm

 

[ducks4you]

Here I am answering my own posts!! ha, ha
I haven't had much success starting coleus, but that would have to be an annual filler, anyway, which I know that I'll need to cover until the perennials fill in.

 

[aftermidnight]

I KNOW that I said, "perennials", but...DD loves gladiolas, and ya know, they can come cheap in the Spring, and we're too cold to leave them in the ground. On the south outside of the fence I thought I might plant about a dozen of them, because they like to topple over. How would you attach them to the fence so that they stay upright and pretty?

A little tip I got from a glad grower, he grew them in hundreds. Plant the corms 6 inches deep and they won't topple over.

Annette

 

[ducks4you]

A little tip I got from a glad grower, he grew them in hundreds. Plant the corms 6 inches deep and they won't topple over.

Annette

OOOOOOUUUUU, good idea! Wonder why they don't say that on the packages?

 

[ducks4you]

How about some gravel in the shade garden? Has anybody here every done that? DD's are uber big anime fans and might even rake it in circles.

 

[ducks4you]

It is unbelievably 56 degrees outside today!! No WONDER I want to plant!!!!!!!!!

 

[ducks4you]

Ok, one more question before I dash outside to thoroughly enjoy cleaning three dirty stalls--the previous owner was a Geologist (we are told) who left some big rocks, probably NOT his favorite ones, but I could grow around them. Besides clematis, any suggestions?

 

[Carol Dee]

Are the big rocks in the shade too? Use them as the focal point of a shady woodland theme spot. Fern, moss, columbine, jack-on-a-pulpit, Dutchman's breeches, etc...