I read this and thought you were talking about my new fence!
I am currently in the same situation. New fence, garden is south facing and the fence is on the south side creating a shadow, apart from a small few hours at each end of the day which is then partial shadow due to surrounding trees.
I am going to make a semi woodland bed, I think. Sweet Box and Ferns for structures then fox gloves, astibilles, native bluebells as a starting point.
I would also like a climber but not sure if I want to put anything on the fence.
Following with interest.
Our situation is same unfortunately what we are looking at is not quite as good looking at that! Shaping the border is a good idea i hadn't thought of that.
Climbing hydrangea might be an option, or garrya elliptica. These would both be on the fence. Another option would be to cut back the lawn and create a border alongside the fence with bamboos (the non-invasive varieties), some grasses are shade tolerant, cimicifuga, japanese anemones... there is quite a choice. If you range the plants from tall to low it could look quite lush. But make sure you improve the soil first as it will have been starved by the hedge that was taken out.
What does that mean improve the soil, i did think the conifers would have taken a lot out of the soil over the years. Would buying top soil be an idea? We also thought about building raised beds in front.
Improve the soil means dig in some organic matter like well-rotted manure (you can buy bags from garden centres if you can't get it from stables or livestock owners) other kinds of bagged soil improver, or garden compost, the kind that you make in a compost bin, not bagged potting compost. Potting compost would be better than nothing if you can't get anything else, but it could be an expensive option. If you go for it, the cheapest peat-free is probably the thing to go for (the kind that turn up from time to time in the supermarkets) - if it's a bit coarse-textured that won't hurt for digging in.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I have a narrow garden with parts of it in shade most of the time. My all stars are acanthus mollis rue ledan which loves shade, gets tall (and has a big leaf span) and a surprisingly long flowering season over summer (months). It is stunning too. Bit slow to start so buy ones that are already a decent size.
Another you will hear about is hardy geranium Rozanne. It's very pretty (blue/purple flowers) and goes forever. Not super tall but useful if you have bigger plants behind it.
Most of the other shade plants I have only have a very short flowering season and are over by summer. Which is annoying. Apart from begonias.
I bought a climbing hydrangea two years ago and whilst it's growing it's not flowering. But needs support. However if your neighbours fence has concrete posts then drill into them and put wires up, he will never know. Or if you really want to upset him get a Virginia creeper. 😁
Prunus Lusitanica grows well in shade and full sun and stuff between. It can take a significant trim without problems. Fairly quick growing 4 in. per year but that's a good thing considering it's easy to shape however you like. When it gets tall enough to get some sun, it'll have pretty little white flowers. It's not the most wow-factor plant in the world, but it does a job and does it well.
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Facing East pic 2
Facing West pic 1
It's not the most wow-factor plant in the world, but it does a job and does it well.