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Advice for a patch of lawn and What I could grow

Jan WellandJan Welland Posts: 15
in Problem solving

Can anyone give me some advice about a piece of really patchy lawn that only gets late afternoon sun in the Summer and hardly anything in autumn/winter. It's a shame to just leave it bare and I've wanted to grow some wild plants & flowers for the bees. I'd really appreciate the best plants I could use or my other idea is to astro turf it but I prefer the wild garden - HELP! thanks Jan

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  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,821

    Hi Jan. There are lots of flowers that you can grow in such an area. How big is your lawn? Most bees prefer to forage in sunshine but if you are happy to convert your shady lawn to a flower border that bees actually like then here is a list of plants that can tolerate shade: foxgloves, hostas, bergenias, pulmonarias, Geranium phaeum (they come in several colours), and for shrubs you could have rhododendrons, mahonias and viburnums especially opulus.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 1,994

    The following are good in shade and should attract bees: Anemone, Aquilegia, Astilbe, Cimicifuga, Digitalis. Hellebores, Lamium, Lilies, Primula, Pulmonaria, Viola. 

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,357

    You only need to buy 2 Geranium phaeum. I started with a black one and added a white one, and now have every shade of blue and mauve imaginable, and stilll some blacks and whitesimage

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,821

    Like Buttercupdays I have every colour imaginable but I did buy a variegated leaf one too. I really love them and don't mind them seeding everywhere as they are easily moved. Cutting them hard back after flowering and I get another flush of flowers.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,821

    Astroturf!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a NO from me image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Jan WellandJan Welland Posts: 15

    Hello to everyone,

    I don't think I'll need the astro turf - that was really a last resort and with all the info you've given me I'm encouraged and pleased to say I don't think I'll be needing it image  Geraniums just happen to be one of my favourite plants as it reminds me of holidays in the sun; so I'll be going shopping for those soon.

    Thanks again to all that replied - imageimageimage

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,821

    Jan. Don't muddle up the fancy Pelargoniums (incorrectly called geraniums by virtually everyone!) that you will have seen in windowboxes and planters on the continent bringing lovely colour to delight the eye. The geraniums we are talking about (proper geraniums) are the hardy types image

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Jan WellandJan Welland Posts: 15

    Thanks ladybird; I'm going to a local specialist and will show them the names of plants I've been given; so hopefully I'll get it right - watch this space as I will post photos when I've done a bit of work image

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 35,821

    Look forward to it.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
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