What can I plant in the front of my house that can grow in little sun?

What is your location?

Hostas grow really well in shady areas. There are many varieties. After a couple of years, I separate mine.

Bushes may hold up better than flowering plantings. WIth the boys, you have little hope for much else. I would go to your local nursery with pic and ask what stock they carry works best in you area. Azaleas are indigenous to your area and are very hardy.

Begonias and impatience are beautiful flowers that grow in shady spots. Lily of the valley is another good shade plant.

For some shrub ideas,gold and green Euonympous,pencil holly,and andromedas.For some annual color..Caladiums.Coleous,and non-stop begonia.For perennials.Astilbes,Hosta,Heucheras,Bleeding Hearts,Lily of the valley.. Remember anything can be planted in a container should you not be able to plant in the ground.

Ferns do well in shade and might tolerate the boys a little better. See what is available in your area, some of my favs are foxtail, asparagus and sword fern. I like mixing them, and you could possible out azaleas in the mix as well since they like the same type of soil as ferns. Many colors for azaleas.

I just recently found out that primroses can grow in little sun.

Lily of the valley is a very hardy plant that seems to grow about anywhere if given a chance. To keep the cats out of my flower pots (He was using it for a cat box!) I collected pine cones and it was excellent too keeping him out and letting the flowers grow. Pokey ones are best for this purpose! Also, Johnny jump ups reseed and grow pretty well even when mowed in a lawn and so does the old fashioned Viola.Daffodils grown nicely and easily in a lot if different situations, but might not hold up to a ball! Another plant that is really hardy and frequent blooming (will continue most of the summer if you cut off the old blossoms, is Yarrow. There are a lot of different colors of it and while it might break off with a ball, it will come back quickly and even stands up to being mowed in the grass. I was going to use it for a ground cover around my lawn and it grew well that way. My husband faithfully moed it until the first time that he saw the flowers on it and then he refused to mow it because he liked the flowers. I had to convince him to mow it when the flowers got dry! It does spread so that might be a consideration if the area is not well contained.

There are several things that don't care for direct sun. Hydrangea is one.

As for pets getting into your "off limits" areas, we are going to try fresh Jalapeno peppers cut up and soaked in water in a spray bottle. Spray to discourage pets from bothering you space.

We have people walking their dogs down our culdesac and not picking up the "gifts" they leave behind. So we are going to spray the front of our yard next to the curb and see if it works.