Types of Shade

Before planning a landscaping layout, familiarize yourself with the varying shade types. Then, study the shady spots in your backyard to understand what's possible when buying plants.
Light/Open Shade
This shade is bright and fairly even. It exists in gardens that are directly open to the sky but are affected by shadows from trees, structures, and walls.
Partial Shade
As the sun moves across the sky, partially shaded areas receive direct sunlight for less than half a day. Partial shade also refers to spots where the sun is blocked during the hottest part of the day.
Filtered/Dappled Shade
Filtered shade typically applies to areas of your garden situated beneath tree canopies. Some sunlight passes through the leaves, dappling the ground with its rays. These parts of your garden can generally support plants that thrive in partial or light shade.
Full/Deep Shade
Very little (if any) direct sunlight touches a fully shaded area. The floor of a gazebo or the ground beneath a grove of evergreens is in deep shade. Your foliage options will be limited in these low-light regions.
Dry/Wet Shade
This is all about soil moisture levels. Dry shade means the soil is dry, and wet shade means it's moist. Dry shade often occurs under large or established trees, where roots suck up most of the water and leave little for new plants. Riverbanks or sunken areas with poor drainage are considered wet shade. Source











