end of garden - looking for inspiration
rdp81
Posts: 2
I'm looking for some ideas as to what to do with the area at the end of my garden. As you can see from the pics, we have two large maple trees and a lot of weeds! The area doesn't get much sunlight. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to use this space?
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Looks like a great spot for a cool, natural looking woodland bed. Would look great planted with large groups of ferns. Harts Tongue Fern and Dryopteris affinis cope very well with dry shade in my experience.
Luzula nivea (the white flowered grass in the photo), Geranium nodosum and Geranium phaeum 'Samobor' would combine well, again planted in large groups. Euphorbia robbia would be excellent, it may take over a bit.
Before planting, kill off the weeds; use glyphosate and re-apply after a few weeks to make sure they are dead. Then strip the soil and dig in plenty of well rotted farmyard manure, bringing the soil level with the top of the wall, before planting. Try and plant in autumn so the plants have a good chance to get their roots established over winter.
Long Acre have a list of plants which are useful in this sort of situation: http://plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Plants_for_Dry_Shade.html
Last edited: 26 August 2017 14:19:06
You can also dot white foxgloves into the mix to give a bit of height and seasonal colour, and plenty of bulbs will cope well - Cyclamen hederifolium, snowdrops etc. I tend to prefer the cool, natural look in shady situations, with foliage and white flowers rather than garish colours.
Thanks WillDB - I'm going to follow this advice. Sounds like good timing with autumn looming.