Flower Box Planting

What plants will grow well in flower boxes located in a shady front yard? Our soil tends to get mossy.

—Rhonda Raynor, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Melinda: Start with a planting mix that drains well in your containers. Then plant shade-tolerant plants such as impatiens, wax begonia, caladium and fuchsia. You'll need less fertilizer and water since plants grow more slowly in low-light areas. If it's too shady for even these plants to grow, try moving your window boxes to a better location or thinning out some larger branches on surrounding trees to increase the sunlight. Consult a certified tree-care professional to get the job done right.