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What would you do with this dark side-alley?

JCTJenningsJCTJennings Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well. Amateur gardener with zero ideas or skill here. I have a question that I hope you can help with...

...what would you with this dark alley? (apart from straightening the fence).
Maybe you don't call it an alley...passage? Ginnel?...whatever. 

The photo was taken mid-May at 10:00 in the NW of England. The alley gets very little sunlight. The view toward the gate is looking north. The view toward the garden is looking south.
Weeds will grow there - although not in abundance.

Whatever goes in - needs to be thin - so I can get my lawnmower and wheelie bin past. They take up the width of the path.

It's the entrance to the garden, so it would be great if it was one of these things...welcoming, fragrant, neat.

I like the idea of using the fence for climbers...preferably evergreen. I do like the idea of climbers in a fan or geometrical shape - but that's not mandatory.

Maybe I should abandon the idea of plants and go for ornaments/lights (something classy obvs).

Thanks for reading. Hope someone can help. I am sure every other gardener sees a space like this and knows exactly what to do. I lack that creativity - but am prepared to do hard work - as long as it's not too much DIY (it gets too sweary).

Best,
Jennings

Looking North.




Looking south

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Posts

  • JCTJenningsJCTJennings Posts: 9
    Hmmm...I thought I had changed my username...will have a fiddle around.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2021
    You need to sign in and  out via the main site (The Gardeners World logo in white, top left)  to change stuff, and  then sign back in again ... then it takes effect

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We have a similar 'side path' ... it runs east to west so gets a bit more sun than yours but not much as we're on a slope and the house to the south is higher up.  We've got some Hart's Tongue ferns dotted along the sides ... they've been there 8 years or so now and are spreading ... they just need cutting back every spring and otherwise we just let them get on with it ... never been watered or fed ... just pull any weeds out but it's so dark there than not many weeds grow.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    If you could widen that ledge a little, you might be able to put some narrow troughs or small pots  on it with a bit of beading on the edge of the shelf so you don't knock them off
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I'd probably use that area for storage but if you want plants then something like this could work. https://www.jackwallington.com/fernatic-50-fern-species-1-living-wall/
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Cleaning the fence of algae and then painting it a light colour would brighten up the space no end.  If there is soil under that gravel then all sorts of ferns would be happy there as long as the soil isn't bone dry.  Variegated ivies would climb up the fence and add light and texture.   

    As there's sun at the top, you can also hang window box/trough planters on the top of the fence and plant trailing plants such as are sold for hanging baskets to provide colour thru the warmer months but be careful about head room.  
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    i 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I have exactly the same also north to south. It was pure clay, impossible to weed or plant. Hired a skip hubby dug it out to the gas pipe,then it's planted up with shade lovers. Honeysuckle not out yet. Astilbe,drum sticks Primula, ferns,Lilly of the valley,a few rocks and logs. I also have to be able to move wheelie bins there. We don't actually access the property from there,but I was determined it wasn't going to be forgotten because of that
  • JCTJenningsJCTJennings Posts: 9
    Some great ideas in these replies. Massive thanks.

    I'm off the the Garden Centre to look at some ferns and shade lovers. Might try them in pots - so I can move them if they don't work out.

    Thanks again!!

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    If you buy shade loving ferns,put a saucer under the pot,that border continues right down the garden that side,we have had showers,I have a couple of ferns in pots they dry out very quickly
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