Unless you are purchasing a property specifically for the type of trees that will shade your garden, you make do with the ones that you have already. The challenge with most tree species in the shade garden is dealing with competition between the roots of the trees and the roots of the perennials. This would be most intense in a garden dominated by shallow rooted maples and is less of a problem with oaks and their somewhat deeper rooting habit.

We also have the ability to add trees to our existing landscape even if it is already in habited by larger, older trees. A group of plants called understory trees will fit the bill and add many nice factors to our hosta garden.

Perhaps the most common understory trees are the dogwoods (Cornus sp.) which are adapted to varying degrees of shade. They provide beautiful flowers (actually bracts) during the spring, nice fall color and colorful berries. The bark on several species also presents winter interest. In addition, many have horizontal branching forms that contrast well with rounded, mounded hostas.