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Fence (full) shaded border and path planting

steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 133
in Garden design
Hi all, I've finished these beds and ready to dig in some compost and get planting. This side "suffers" from full shade from the fence, but i'm keen to have some year round foliage with a classic high at the back, low to the front planting. I'm an absolute beginner so wondered if you could please help me with what to plant!?!? Also - Im planning to build a pergola where the small shed is currently and would like to plant along the path between the lawn and pavers - would lavender grow ok without the direct sun? THANKS!
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @steven.g.garner. Shade really isn't a problem if you pick the right planting.
    If you want lavender - it would be better on the other side of the garden.
    I take it the beds have access to the soil below?
    I'd try and get hold of a load of well rotted manure for those beds - not just compost. Or at least - some topsoil. Compost alone isn't great, and will narrow your choices considerably. 
    Was the tree already there, or has it been planted recently?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Sazz101Sazz101 Posts: 248
    Hello. Lavender definitely needs sun. Tall evergreen shrubs are your best bet for along the fence. Pyracantha? Skimmia? Best bet is to use RHS website plantfinder search tool to find something you like the look of. If you are willing to put up a trellis on the fence it’s more space for shorter plants to grow at the front of the bed :)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Anything shrubby will just fill those beds in a few years.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    It looks as though you've put weed suppressing fabric down. Is that temporary? Or will you remove it and dig compost into the earth below? That will be fine, will improve the soil.
    I have euonymus in that sort of situation, evergreen and variegated, green and gold, green and silver. But most shrubs would bush out and use most of that space. 
    Lavender must have sun.
    Quite a few clematis will grow in shade. You could have clematis on the fence with shade loving perenials in front, such as Brunnera, geranium maccrorhizum, geranium phaem, hostas, dryopteris ferns, heuchera, tiarella.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • OwlbearOwlbear Posts: 49
    In a somewhat similar spot I have a few clumps of low growing Campanula (Campanula Garganica) as well as Phlox (the tall types). Neither get a terrific amount of direct sunlight but both have been pottering along for years and seem happy enough. The Phlox would obviously be significantly happier with more sun, but they do alright for us.

    I believe Aquilegias cope quite well with shade, but I've never grown them personally so take that with a healthy pinch of salt. 

    I agree that most shrubs (at least that I know of) would easily fill that spot up leaving little or no room for anything else. 



  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 133
    Thank so much for all the advice so quickly. A few responses:

    I put down weed netting as I had originally planned for sparse box and bark chippings, however I really
    now prefer a much more ‘busy’ approach, so I can easily take that up and dismiss when I fill/dig the beds with compost (or manure also you reccomend?)

    the tree is a cherry (I think!) which was originally there but covered in ivy. I’ve released it and it seems pretty happy!

    you mentions ‘shrubs’ would soon fill the area, and in particular??? Again I’m very much a beginner here.

    ive posted another picture of the other side which gets good sun, I’ve just planted those and they seem to be going ok - will need to add a lot more here too.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited May 2020
    It depends on the soil and you general conditions weather wise @steven.g.garner
    That's why I said you need to add something substantial, and what was underneath the beds.
    There's no point suggesting planting without adequate info about the site. Dry shade is totally different from wet shade
    I'm trying to save you from wasting money!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited May 2020
    Your garden looks really nice with those wooden beds.

    I have a border about the same size and situation which I planted up last November. The soil is bagged topsoil as I built the bed where a concrete path had been. (After removing the path and most of the hardcore). I dug in compost as well.

    It contains Sarcoccocca, which are dense evergreen shrubs similar to Box but with sweet smelling winter flowers. Various ferns including evergreen Harts Tongue and Polypodium vulgare. And Luzula nivea which is a superb evergreen grass with white flowerheads.

    It wasn't in my plan, but I couldn't resist squeezing in a Hellebore, a double pink type. There are also 3x Pulmonaria 'Opal', which I think had it's leaves for most of the winter, and has been flowering for me since March. For later in the year I have a couple of clumps of Eurybia divaricata. For ground cover, I have also added some Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Ola' which will have white flowers on it soon.

    This was in March, the Polypodium ferns look a mess after being divided up by me in winter. You can see the Sarcoccocca behind the pink Hellebore.



    Late April (Polypodiums have been cut down to make way for new fronds).



    Early May - Luzula nivea. 


    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    I have a shade bed by my back fence. I've never had any shrubs there but lots of ferns. I have several polystichium which have grown to be behemoths (they went nuts one very wet summer), a couple of dryopteris, cyrtomium and asplenium. Perennials I have are dicentra alba, heucheras/heucherellas, aquiligia, hellebores and erythronium. I've noticed my neighbour two doors down has a clematis on their back fence that always seems to flower well but I couldn't tell you which variety it is.

    I've no idea what type of soil I have. I was new to gardening and took cues from my OH's mum who has an incredible garden. Her method is to stick it in the ground and see if it grows :D So far I haven't had many losses but I think that's due to dumb luck!  
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 133
    Fairygirl said:
    It depends on the soil and you general conditions weather wise @steven.g.garner
    That's why I said you need to add something substantial, and what was underneath the beds.
    There's no point suggesting planting without adequate info about the site. Dry shade is totally different from wet shade
    I'm trying to save you from wasting money!
    Thank you @fa@Fairygirl - So, the shaded soil here is quite damp, definitely not dusty dry. We are in london, so the soil is a little clay like, especially on that side. prior to me building these beds the garden was a mass of conifers which seemed to be enjoying the soil.
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