If there is one term that strikes fear into the heart of the gardener, it has to be “dry shade.” Most landscapes have these haunts, where a shovel into the ground yields a few pathetic roots and a dustbowl of pathetic soil. It can be very discouraging to tackle a landscaping project in such an area but do solutions exist? Of course they do! Dry shade appears as a result of a few circumstances in the garden. Mostly it’s under trees, where branches are causing the shade and the tree roots sucking up the moisture is causing the dry. But it can also occur at the base of north or east-facing retaining walls, or under the roof overhang on the shady side of the house. Wherever they are located areas with dry shade call for a bit of remedial labour before planting can begin. The best action is to work organic material into that soil to help retain some moisture. Compost, peat, leaf mold, manures; whatever you can obtain can be added to soil. Where tree roots are an issue dig an extra large hole and line it with organic matter. Then put a layer of organic mulch on top to cover the roots of the new plants. A 15 metre tall maple tree is not going to be kind to anything planted under its canopy; those plants will need your help. Accept that any plants you install will not grow as quickly as they would in other environments. Between the shade and the dryness they’ll do well to establish and maintain let alone multiply quickly.