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Underplanting Mahonia Media

thedjjjthedjjj Posts: 84
in Plants

Hi,

I have a rather shady fence, north-west facing that I'd like to plant something quite substantial in (the view behind this fence isn't the best). A mahonia seems a perfect fit - before that I had considered a couple of viburnum tinus.

I'm looking for some ideas as to what to underplant the mahonia with given it's upright and bare-bottomed nature. 

The soil is a heavy clay .. by that fence there unfortunately is some horsetail and a bit of moss which indicates the drainage and/or soil is poor .. I've not a done a PH test either yet but I'd guess it's acidic given the moss.

The horsetail is coming through pebbling, which is within a 10cm wide section which runs alongside the fence bordering to the lawn. I plan to get rid of the pebbling anyway, it looks terrible image

Whatever is planted there will get a small amount of sun from around 3pm onwards, but not at the feet of the plant (Guessing another reason for the moss).

Any ideas? This is Midlands, if that helps also.

I'll post a couple of pictures tomorrow which might help further.

Thanks!

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,214

    How much room do you have to plant into? There are plenty of shrubs that will be happy there. Where I work, the owners planted up an area which has Skimmia, Berberis, Pieris and other similar planting in front of the Mahonia and other hedging. It's more difficult if you only have a narrow space. 

    I also have a Mahonia in my front garden - also north west facing and clay soil,  although the shrub faces the other way, and gets very little sun. It will be getting some bits and pieces in front of it as I develop the area there. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,214

    Ooh - think I've slightly misunderstood - thought the OP already had a Mahonia in situ....image

    and wanted planting kind of in front of it....image

    image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,214

    I'm all a**e over t*t today...image

    That's what happens when you get up early....image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619

    Is 9am early? ;-)

    I hate Mahonia, I have one on my front drive that just throws up spiky suckers far away on the other side of my path, who does he think he is?  I think it's in completely the wrong place, full sun and dry soil might explain why it doesn't flower either.  I'll get around to removing it eventually!

    It's probably a good choice if you do like Mahonia dj, if you can improve the drainage first!  Verdun is right (again), it shouldn't be bare but I suppose you could plant in front of it and keep it in check. The thing that comes to mind is corydalis (yellow or blue).  Should flower in partial shade.

  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489

    Mahonias (2) and various other shrubs in  north facing border (actually faces the  back of the house with just a path between) and woodland on other side of the fence. . .. . . . In front of the shrubs I have Brunnera, Dicentra, , Helebore, Astilbes and small variegated grass.

    SW Scotland
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,214

    Bob  image

    I was going to take a pic when I collected daughter from work but it was ferdiddling down. Crocosmia Lucifer is in front of that Mahonia I mentioned, as well as Holly, hardy Geraniums and the other shrubs I mentioned. There are three golden conifers behind for screening from the other property at the back of it.

    I did take a pic of the Mahonia once when it was flowering as it looked lovely, but not sure any of the other planting is in the pic.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • thedjjjthedjjj Posts: 84

    Hi everyone 

    OK as promised here are some pictures which should help with the vision a bit more. Excuse the state; I've been in the house a year but interior decoration had taken precedence but with Autumn on the cusp I'm determined to start early and sort this garden out and make it look lush image

    these were taken just now (16:15pm UK time) so gives an idea of the sun level. The pebbled border rubs around the fence to about 10cm wide. 

    The last picture shows an east facing fence. That part of the garden is council owned - there is an electricity box to the right fencing but I'm hoping I can contact the council and see if they will let me maintain it (a bloke comes round in mid spring to spray chikara - though this hasn't harmed the plants next to the path I'd still rather no spraying would be going on in my garden image

    image

    image

    image

    Past the choisya to the fence is the council owned bit. 

    Theres a few decent plants, I have a few skimmias which I will plant along the right fence east facing. All the rubbish in the top left corner will be dug out. 

    Thanks again,

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