A house on a wooded lot may provide homeowners the enjoyment of lower air conditioning bills as the trees shade the house in summer. With a wooded lot, kids can play outside with less fear of sunburn, and for those in colder climates, the changing of leaf color on a wooded lot in autumn is spectacular. Before creating a landscape design for a wooded lot, evaluate the sun level, which will help in selecting plants better suited for a shady, wooded lot.
Evaluating Sun Level
Sunlight levels on a wooded lot may be partial to full shade. Texas A&M; University describes sun levels here, where they define partial shade as four to five hours of no sun between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. or all-day dappled sun through a tree canopy. In full shade, no sunlight hits the ground because the canopies of the trees touch and block out sunlight.
Trees and Shrubs
Trees. Choose small trees, like flowering dogwood, as focal points. On a large lot, a grouping of three dogwoods will display their blooms in the spring before other trees show their leaves.
Flowering shrubs. Camellia, snowball hydrangea, azalea or rhododendron, can be planted within the landscape or used as foundation plants in front of the house. Place the taller growing camellia or wide growing hydrangea at the corners of the house where their height or width won’t be an issue.
Plants
Shade-tolerant flowers. Astilbe, bleeding heart, wild columbine, foam flower, impatiens, lily of the valley and Turk’s cap lily can add a few weeks of color to the shady areas under trees, along a walkway or fence, or in containers.
Non-flowering. Though hosta does send up small blooms, the plant is better known for the variations in its leaf color that adds subtle enhancement to the landscape. Ferns, which also enjoy shade and have different leaf shapes and colors, can make a statement when planted in mass.
Defining Walkways or Property Lines
Paths. Create meandering paths through the trees using shredded bark mulch. The paths can be lined with rock or railroad ties, or left plain. Flagstone or other stepping stones can be used to create walkways leading to the house.
Fencing. Install log fencing or stone walls to create boundaries.
Enhancements and Accents
Sitting areas. Place a bench at a curve in a path through the trees. Where mosquitoes are an issue, a screened-in gazebo with comfortable seating, lighting and a ceiling fan can make a welcoming retreat.
Lighting. At ground level or in the trees, lighting can add ambience while safely illuminating a walkway.
Water feature. Adding a water feature to a wooded lot will require maintenance to remove leaves and twigs that fall from the trees. The sound of falling water, though, is very relaxing. Place the water feature near a pathway or a gazebo.
Add whimsy. Bird houses attached to poles or suspended from trees can attract desirable birds. Tuck gnomes or gazing balls into the shrubs or flowers to show your fun side.
Sources: Texas A&M; University, University of Minnesota Extension
