Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Help with just-weeded shady bare soil under leylandii - will these plants work, how many do I need

135678

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited November 2023
    Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersens is a pale pink. G macrorrhizum White Ness a pure white, G macrorrhizum Bevan's Variety Magenta pink.

    If you really want to have a go create a test area in the part shown in your latest photo.
    In a space about a metre square add a large bag of soil conditioner and dig in to the top layer of soil. If you can achieve a planting depth of 20 inches you have a chance anything less and you could be wasting money. You may have a friend with one of these hardy geraniums every small piece will grow. You will pick up it's pungent smell! Or buy a large pot full and split. Better still in spring you could take lots of cuttings from a large pot full pot up and plant out next autumn. This plant is a great weed suppressant, cut back after flowering for a neat plant and more cutting material.

    Epimedium Warleyense Orange Queen, the yellow E Sulphureum , E Rubrum a sort of reddish pink. Are three of the stronger forms, avoid any from Japan beautiful but iffy.
    These plants also split easily, but always make large clumps.

    Gardening is not an exact science and a long term plan is needed to avoid costly mistakes. You will be replanting due to the cats, larger plants wil cope better hence the cost.

    I think you mentioned ferns? My favourite is Polystichum Setiferum. These three plants all have different leaf shapes and you could put together a colour scheme for an evolving spring garden.  Gardening planning is all about the next season and beyond. A note book for latin names I find helpful.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited November 2023
    Thanks so much @Fairygirl, I'm just thinking through what you said. In the meantime, what kind of soil conditioner are you referring to, from these? There are a few different kinds.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited November 2023
    That is great advice you've given Fairygirl.
    I will make a note of those geranium names and see if I can find someone with them. I think I will have a go at least, with transplanting some of my geranium from the earlier picture. It's getting quite large so I could definitely spare some. Then I could always add more geraniums at a later date from other sources.
    I like the look of epimediums so I'd like to try them. The RHS site says Epimedium perralderianum is 'slow spreading', which is good vs no spreading at all, and maybe none of them are fast spreaders. It doesn't mention spreading for the rubrum, sulphurium, or orange queen. If anyone knows which epimediums are the best spreaders, please let me know!
    The Polystichum Setiferum is just lovely. I think the area around the shed should be nice for ferns, as moss seems to love it. I'm looking at ferns in 9cm pots. Do you know how fast they grow?  I know I can't expect a lot of growth from them.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I think expecting 20 inches of soil is a bit much, many of the perennials mentioned will survive happily in less. I have most of them in my Beech woodland, some growing in about 4 inches of soil.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    What kind of epimediums do you have @punkdoc ?
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    I've noticed that the information about epimediums says they like acid or neutral soils, so I need to bear that in mind.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I only grow E x rubrum, which thrives in an area of dry shade, with very little soil.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Very nice, punkdoc, that is one that I have my eye on to get. Does it spread much?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Yes, but not in an unpleasant way, I have divided it several times over the years. I shear off the old leaves in February time, allows you to see the flowers better, and the new leaves are very pretty.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    That sounds perfect. I think the ruby red flowers are beautiful, I'm looking forward to getting it.
Sign In or Register to comment.