Win a Copy of Planting in the Dry Shade Garden by Graham Rice
Planting the Dry Shade Garden is the latest book by the world-acclaimed plantsman and award-winning garden writer Graham Rice, so I groveled a bit to get a review copy. I loved the book and am happy to pass it along to a lucky commenter here on the blog. Just tell us why you need it, but don’t worry about being clever or the most desperate commenter because we’ll pick the winner at random. Entries close at midnight next Friday, October 21, and the winner can pick up the book at either Behnkes location.
More about Planting the Dry Shade Garden
Rice is undaunted by this most difficult of gardening situations and has compiled a terrific list of plants that can take it. Plus, tips on how to make dry shade both less dry and less shady.
And based on h
is decades of gardening both in England and Pennsylvania, Rice is able to cover all plant groups – shrubs, climbers, perennials, ground covers, bulbs and annuals, foliage plants and, even lots of flowers.
Here’s just a sampling of the great plants that Rice recommends for dry shade: Aucuba, Cyclamen, Male Fern, Epimedium, Wintercreeper Euonymus, Climbing Hydrangea, Stinking Iris, Lamium, Money Plant and Butcher’s Broom (I’d never heard of that one!)
The photography in the book is mainly the work of award-winning photographer judywhite, so not only is the book packed with good advice, but the pictures reveal the beauty of the plants you can grow.
Posted by Susan Harris.
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Filed under: Books & Mags
Glad you are doing a random draw, which gives everyone a chance. I would read from front to back since I have dry shade in the backyard for sure and would love to see if there is anything new that I have not planted in the backyard…and then I would donate to the National Agricultural Library so that everyone who comes to Beltsville (just so happens to be the home of Behnke’s as well)… could read it. Share!
Epimedium, which I bought at Behnke’s, does well in my yard and spreads. With a red maple in the front yard and a silver maple in the backyard–both too big for our lot, I have tree roots on top of clay. I spread lots of LeafGro in fall and spring and water, but I would do well to plant more suitable plants. If I don’t win this book, I will buy it.
Looks like a useful book. I have a tiny backyard dominated by a huge oak tree, so it would be great to get some new ideas for planting.
My yard backs up to a finger of Rock Creek Park. Needless to say I have open shade, dense shade, dappled shade and a smidge of part shade. And all those mature trees suck up all the moisture.
Any advice and planting ideas is so welcome.
I have a shady hillside that needs some more suitable plants. This book would be a big help.
I’m looking for ideas for my shaded backyard. This would be great.
Just moved and the yard is sandy and shady. Need help!! This book would really be helpful.
I am always looking for new and interesting plant ideas. My soil is surprisingly sandy which is an added challenge.
Dry Shade? Gosh yes, always looking for ideas for my clay soil, oak tree shaded yards. And so few books even go into dry shade, they always it is moist. Very frustrated. So, yes I would LOVE the book to help me with my garden.
I just moved, too, and I’ve got an open area with lots of evergreens and very dry, dappled shade. I’d love to make it interesting — it’s filled with liriope and ivy now, which is, to my taste, boring and ugly.
I can use any book on shade gardening! After growing up in the desert it has taken me the past twenty years to learn how to exploit my shady yard, and i’m still learning. this book sounds great!
I have almost totally shaded yard in both front and back, and have struggled over the years to keep things alive that needed more moisture,obviously, than I was giving. Many $ later I’d love to see some green things that can flourish in my particular situation. Thanks for addressing this challenge!
Hello,
I would love to see what this book recommends. I have dappled shade in my backyard, and while I can attest that Money Plant loves this, I am looking to expand beyond my mostly Hosta, Money plant, and Bee Balm palette. I have both wet shade (bottom of the hill) and dry shade (top of the hill), so I am looking for any suggestions for dry shade (and also what will grow well around Black Walnut trees).
I have 5 acres of dry shaded soiled….needless to say this book would really be a help to me. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.