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Shady woodland area - ideas!

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  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    We have a similar garden in Devon, south facing but sloping upwards and heavily shaded by trees. As the trees get their leaves, you’ll find it gets even shadier! Is your soil acidic, like ours? Either test it, or look at your neighbours gardens to see what’s thriving. What grows well here in the shade are camellias, loads of lovely colours to choose from, and evergreen as a bonus. We also have mahonia, although being spiky, will have to be positioned where you won’t walk into them. Lovely fragrant flowers though. Pieris will grow like weeds round here, but can be pruned back, encouraging new brightly coloured shoots.
  • Thank you all for the great ideas and advice!
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    You can also grow from seed. Chiltern Seeds do a mix 'for a shady spot'  that includes annuals and perennials that would get things going nicely and not cost much. Other seed providers may do similar, this is just the one I've seen.
  • Here’s a photo. It’s got lots of potential ;-) I’ve started to clear the stingers and weeds. Lots of bulbs coming through now which is really exciting but there are currently no shrubs in. I have a couple of large willow saplings and a wild cherry that I grew from cuttings/seed that I could potentially plant here. I love the ideas so far, thank you! Definitely would like some winter colour for the small trees/shrubs. Only trouble is when I get a recommendation/see a pic of a plant/flower/shrub I like nearly everything! Decisions decisions…
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Be careful where you put the willow saplings and the cherry, so you don’t risk reducing the light even further. Ribes, the flowering variety, seem to grow well in the shady areas, and we have a skimmia ( not sure what variety) but seems happy enough.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited 9 January
    @NewDevonGarden I agree alot of potential. However I wouldn't start thinking of plants just yet other than caring those you may already have. I assume your property is not a new build and that the soil has been worked over the years. You could clear a small sheltered area and use this as a nursery bed for plants you do have, whilst you are working on the rest. This will give you a starting point otherwise you are in danger of going round in circles. I would start with a soil testing kit unless you are able to ID lots of the plants in gardens nearby. If you do have an acidic soil then you need to find out before you start.

    It is difficult to see alot from your photo especially with the sun low in the sky, however
    I would dig some holes with a spade in various places around the garden to see how well it drains. What the soil is like very important, so check before you start. If the ground is very wet and soil sticks to your shoes keep off. Knowing your soil helps you to understand what will thrive and could save you alot of money. Also working  in frozen conditions can cause the frozen soil to be trapped deep down something to be aware of too.

    I wondered if you decided to start at the bottom of the garden as this area puzzled you the most in terms of what to grow?
    It would be best to have an overall view of what you want from your garden as a whole before you start. If your main aim is just to grow trees/shrubs/perennials a central deeply curving lawn always works. Also every garden has practical issues to address.

    Are there plants in the garden that you can salvage? If unsure gardeners on here can ID for you. Also if you can give an idea of what you are looking to do,[ I realise that is not always easy] as much info as you can give will be a long term benefit to you I believe.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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