Flourishing in the
Shade Garden
with Ed LyonÂ
Learn how to make the darkest parts of your garden shine. This course is on-demand and available now.
Gardens That Thrive in Low-Light Conditions
Shade is one of the largest challenges facing home gardeners—especially the novice and inexperienced—but even seasoned gardeners can struggle with it.
In this immersive online course, you will learn how to make the dark areas of your yard shine. Instructor Ed Lyon started his journey into ornamental gardening almost 30 years ago. Across that expanse of time, he owned four properties—all with shaded areas—so he was compelled to get serious about addressing shade issues to create display beds. He also became passionate about helping to educate other gardeners about succeeding in the shade.
What You Will Learn
In this course, you will learn how to build or improve a shade garden. In addition to providing guidance on design and how to select the right plants, Ed will share his broad experiences, including mistakes, to give you the knowledge you need to address the dark spots in your yard with confidence. Whether you are a new or experienced gardener, you will learn that throwing shade is a good thing in gardening.
Course Topics
Introduction to Shade
What Is Shade?
Cultural Issues and Why They Are Important
Plants and Their Considerations
'Foundation' Plants
Grasses, Bulbs, Native vs. Ornamental, Wildlife-Friendly
Shade Garden Design
Plant Design
The Nonplant Elements
Building and Improving the Space
How to Build a Shade Garden
How to Improve a Shade Garden
Eliminate Scourges—Pests and Diseases
Meet Your Instructor
Ed Lyon has spent more than 20 years in the public garden field and is currently director of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He holds an M.S. in horticulture and is the proprietor of Spellbound Garden Writing and Consultation, through which he presents gardening topics to public and professional audiences. He writes for Fine Gardening and other national gardening publications and is the author of Growing the Midwest Garden (Timber Press, 2015). He is as passionate about education as he is about horticulture. Most importantly, he is a lifelong gardener with dirt under his nails.