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shaded woodland garden

Darren Davies-JonesDarren Davies-Jones Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Good Morning   Please could you advise me on what to do with a garden totally shaded be oak trees.   Our back garden is on a slope and has allot of trees. We love the trees but would like to have some natural, wildlife and native friendly plants there. The area can be very damp due to lack of light. We are planning on putting lots of native bluebells and snow drops in for colour but would like more blooms as much of the year as possible to help lighten what is a dark area. We want plants that can grow wild and good for our wildlife.   I would be grateful for any advice you would be kind enough to provide.   Many Thanks   Darren
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Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    You could try foxgloves and some ferns.  Ferns don't" bloom", but they add a lovely fresh green to the scene.  We have a stand of shuttlecock ones growing in a similar situationimage

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    HOSTAS image

    Devon.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    We have Hostas next to said shuttlecock fernsimage.  Sum and Substance - monsters, and seem immune to slugs ....or maybe the toads down there are earning their keepimageimageimage

  • wishbonewishbone Posts: 44

    Hi Darren you could also try primroses, bugle, celandines, wood sorrel, wood anemone, common dog violet, red campion, lords-and-ladies, yellow archangel, early purple orchid, honeysuckle and dog rose if the leaf canopy is not too thick. Most woodland flowers bloom in spring when the canopy allows in most light so you may need to do some strategic pruning to allow clearings for blooms later in the year. Good luck.

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    chicky isn't S&S a beauty?

    Guess what I've got beside mine? Matteuccia struthiopteris, Shuttlecock fern.

    Great minds eh?

    Devon.
  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    imageHostaimage.   We'll skip over the bit about fools seldom differ shall weimageimage

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    clearly , tee hee.

    Devon.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    The variegated white honesty makes a ggod show.

    re wishbone's suggestion of strategic pruning. Raising the conopy, ie removing some lower branches, makes a lot of difference to what you can grow.

    Has anyone mentioned astrantias?



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Joe_the_GardenerJoe_the_Gardener Posts: 876

    Are the oak trees on your land, and do they have any protection (TPO or Coservation Area)?

  • Joe_the_GardenerJoe_the_Gardener Posts: 876

    One of my n's is missing.

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