Too much shade?

9 years ago

Hello again,

With immense gratitude for all your combined knowledge, experience and support I present another question.

I recently planted a number of new (large and giant varieties of) hostas in a new area between a mature white pine and Norway spruce with what I thought was dappled shade. I had a number growing well in the front and wanted to expand. Having become much more educated due to this forum I am afraid there is not enough sun where I planted the new ones for them to thrive.

It will take awhile to prepare a new location for them and growing in pots is not an option (living in the country the wild critters dig anything up that's in a pot). Is it reasonable to grow them closer together in a more ideal spot and then relocate them (with sterilized tools :-) in a year or two in their forever homes?

Is it true that more sun when small will make the roots more vigorous and they can then "tolerate" more shade?

I welcome your input.

Thank you in advance,
AT

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Comments (2)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
ya know.. when you start with all those platitudes.. its REALLY hard to ignore you .. lol ...

shade is undefinable in words ...

but i question your conclusions...

but dont know how to debate such ...

can you give us some pix???

shade will NEVER kill anything... in a fast way ...

it is better to move bigger plants in there... and i mean bigger root masses ... its hard to grow a babe into such.. if in fact.. it is too dark ...

and try to stay away with anything with a lot of white tissue ... except the undulata clan ... there is just that much less green tissue for photosynthesis ...

so if you move a plant in... and next year.. it is the same .. or bigger... you were wrong about the light ...

if it is smaller ... significantly smaller.. not just from the transplant .. but because of lack of vigor.. them move it out ....

you dont really even try to define the amount of light... is there any actual sun.. how many hours.. what part of the day ... etc ... and frankly more importantly.. what is making the shade.. if its a maple forest.. just give up w/o trying ...

i lost focus.. lol... so i will say good luck... and await further input from you and others...

ken
altheatime
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Ken!

It's under the canopy of a white pine and Norway spruce, both very tall.

Only dappled shade, if that, later in the day. I thought there was more when I planted. Will take a photo.

Thanks again!
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