Lower-light template

4x4 Shade Greens and Herb Bed Plan

Use this for a bright edge, east exposure, or part-sun bed where fruiting vegetables struggle.

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Bed size
4 x 4
Plants
18
Space range
10-78 sq ft

Plan setup

What this template assumes

The planner link stores the template locally in your browser so you can change quantities, drag plants, export a bed PDF, or clear it.

Bed footprint 16 sq ft

1 bed at 4 x 4 ft.

Site Zone 7B

Partial sun, loam soil, medium water.

Estimated output 7-19 lb

Based on sourced yield rows where available; herbs and flowers may not have pound output.

Data coverage 5/5 spacing rows

5/5 plants have output ranges; 1 need extra risk review.

Plant list

Plants in this layout

Quantities are starting points. Use the Garden Planner to adjust spacing, layout, and risk checks.

Leafy green

Bloomsdale spinach

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-9b

Qty
6
Spacing
0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 1-3 ft rows
Yield
0.5-1.5 lb/plant/season
Risk
Occasionally damaged / Mixed or uncertain
Fast green

Astro arugula

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-10a

Qty
4
Spacing
0.5-1.5 ft in-row x 1-3 ft rows
Yield
0.5-1.5 lb/plant/season
Risk
Not rated / Mixed or uncertain
Leaf lettuce

Buttercrunch lettuce

Annual vegetable / zones 3a-9b

Qty
4
Spacing
0.5-1 ft in-row x 1-3 ft rows
Yield
0.5-1 lb/plant/season
Risk
Frequently damaged / Mixed or uncertain
Herb

Italian flat-leaf parsley

Biennial herb / zones 4a-10b

Qty
2
Spacing
0.5-1 ft in-row x 1-1.5 ft rows
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Not rated
Shade-tolerant herb

Mitsuba Japanese parsley

Perennial herb / zones 5a-9b

Qty
2
Spacing
1-3 ft apart
Yield
-
Risk
Seldom damaged / Not rated

Source trail

References behind this template

These are the common source families behind the plants in this layout. Individual plant pages keep their own source links and caveats.

12 template records NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox Reference basis for ornamental plant size, function, and right-plant-right-place screening. 8 template records Rutgers NJAES - Landscape Plants Rated by Deer Resistance Deer browsing categories used as planning cues; no plant is deer proof under heavy pressure. 6 template records Penn State Extension - Landscaping and Gardening Around Walnuts and Other Juglone Producing Plants Black walnut and juglone sensitivity/tolerance cue for garden placement screening. 5 template records Illinois Extension - Growing Vegetables in Containers Container vegetable guidance for matching container size, rooting depth, and plant density. 5 template records University of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables Container volume guidance, including large vegetables and 25-30 gallon dwarf fruit tree containers.

Useful supplies

Setup items for this plan

Product links may earn a commission and do not affect plant rankings.

Soil / Bed prep

Finished compost

Improve bed structure and organic matter before planting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.

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Protection / At planting

Floating row cover

Protect young crops from wind, light frost, and early pest pressure while still letting light and water through.

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Protection / Heat waves

Shade cloth

Reduce heat stress for cool-season greens, tender transplants, and containers in hot sun.

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Watering / Planting day

Watering wand or can

Water new transplants gently without washing soil away from the crown or roots.

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Tools / Planting day

Hand trowel

Plant starts, herbs, flowers, bulbs, and smaller container plants at the right depth.

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Next step

Make it fit your yard

Templates are useful shortcuts, but ZIP, frost window, deer pressure, black walnut, and sun exposure still matter.

4x8 raised bed cropsCompare compact crops that make sense in a 32 sq ft bed. Zone 7 vegetablesBrowse Zone 7 kitchen crops with timing and spacing data. Deer-resistant plantsStart with plants that have better deer browsing cues.