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Ideas for this area

WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
edited August 2021 in Problem solving
Hi,

im struggling to think of ideas for the area on the right in the below image. This pic was taken last autumn and the intention was to have both sides of the mown path as ‘wild areas’. The left hand side is great now, with plenty of wild perennials amongst the tall grass but the area on the right has just turned into a nettle and thistle bed.

I have a few nettle patches in the garden and thistles are scattered in a few spots elsewhere so insects can still utilise these plants. 

This area receives around 5 hours of sun, between 10-3ish and is approx 6m x 2m.

The whole garden is planted with pollinator-friendly plants so anything to attract the insects would be ideal. 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 Thanks.


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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I would love to have a bed like that to fill. Lucky you.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    As its so close to the house and only gets limited direct sun, I'm not sure what I can do with it! 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Bump it tomorrow if you get no replies. I'm sure there's loads of forum members with good ideas😊
    They just have to spot your post
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Hopefully some suggestions will be put forward tomorrow!
  • bullfinchbullfinch Posts: 692
    The things attracting the most bees  and butterflies in our garden at the moment are lavender, shrubby salvias , marjoram and Bowles mauve wallflower. Earlier in the year the foxgloves and oriental poppies were very popular. I don't know if you like any of those things?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's fairly sunny then, and getting the sun through the hottest part of the day. Some parts will obviously be slightly shadier than others, and once you have planting in them, that also changes things, but I'd be looking at plants which like a generally sunny aspect. It would be worth adding a few shrubs too, to help with support. Euphorbia and Potentilla for example. 
    I grow Lychnis coronaria, Heleniums, Liatris, Kniphofia and Crocosmia in borders which get sun for that amount of time. Asters are also good as they give later colour along with the 'daisy' plants. Fennel is another good plant for height, and V. bonariensis. If you add a few ornamental grasses - evergreen and deciduous, that will add structure and support. Phormiums and some of the well behaved Carexes for example. 
    I also have an early clematis - Octopus, one of the macropetalas - in one border. That's on a free standing support rather than on the wall, but those are excellent for insects and pollinators, and have lovely seed heads. 
    I also have bulbs in one of the borders - species tulips are excellent, and will return, unlike many of the others. Crocus and those small tulips are early and very valuable for insects at that time of year. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • WildlifeloverWildlifelover Posts: 380
    Thanks for the replies!

    i started digging it out yesterday and literally hit a problem! There’s concrete where the marked area is in the pic below, which will be impossible for me to remove. There’s about 15cm of soil on top of the concrete (which is sloped towards the path so I don’t think drainage will be a problem).

    Are there any shallow rooted plants I could use in this area?

     Thanks.
  • CostumedVoleCostumedVole Posts: 257
    Will be looking at the answers to this with interest, but I suspect the knowledgeable regulars will say planters or raised bed.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    As it's an irregular shape, you could make a low mound to give some added height and variety, using old logs or tree branches if you have no stone. to make a bit of a stumpery, a very good way to show off ferns and the more delicate shade lovers.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Things like Ajuga, Saxifrages and Aubretia etc will be fine, and any shallow rooted alpine type planting which doesn't need much soil depth. The only problem with that is the location. If it was near the edges it would be fine, but as it's a bit more central, and you'd probably want a bit more height, it's worth doing something like @Buttercupdays suggests.

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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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