DATE: Sunday, March 9, 1997                 TAG: 9703080084

SECTION: HOME                    PAGE: G5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ROBERT STIFFLER, GARDENING COLUMNIST 

                                            LENGTH:   50 lines

TREES DICTATE A SHIFT TO SHADE PLANTS

JUDY PERRY IS a well-qualified gardener, but her knowledge of shade gardening is a lesson only recently learned from her own back yard.

Perry has served as horticulture chairman for The Garden Club of Virginia; her home has been open for Historic Garden Week in Virginia; and she is an active member of the Elizabeth River Garden Club in Portsmouth. Still, the severe winter of 1995-96 killed many of her plants.

Perry has lived in her house, originally built by her grandfather, for 24 years. During that time, trees have grown, and the yard has changed. Large pecan trees and two huge walnuts cover the back garden with deep shade and take much water from the soil.

Bill Pinkham of Smithfield Gardens provided the basic plan for Perry's garden, keeping in mind her interest in old garden plants, especially roses and magnolias.

When many of her old plants were killed last winter, she replanted with plants that require less sun and less water. The garden now is filled with ivy, hosta, columbine, liriope and spring bulbs, all of which survive in shade.

Perry, who has long been involved in providing garden advice to others through her garden club activities, offers these suggestions:

Learn what you have in your garden. Know your plants, whether they need sun or shade, lots of water or little water and move them if necessary. It's very important that you know every plant and tree in your yard so you know what to do to make or keep it healthy.

Find a neighbor who's knowledgeable and can identify your plants, if you can't. ``A knowledgeable neighbor is a great learning tool and an inspiration,'' Perry said.

Mow your own lawn. ``In addition to the exercise most folks need, you are inspecting your plants every time you mow,'' she said. ``Whether you're aware of it or not, by giving your plants a weekly or biweekly check, you'll learn more about them. It's the way to stop disease and insect problems before they get a toe-hold in your garden.''

Unfortunately, many homeowners have someone else cut their grass, which makes routine inspection of your landscape plants an event that does not happen often enough. Whenever you walk outdoors, carry the pruning shears, and you'll be ready to take care of any plant problems you may encounter. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

ROBERT STIFFER

Judy Perry checks out a container of ivy in her Portsmouth shade

garden. KEYWORDS: WEEDER'S DIGEST

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