Plants for a difficult spot
Kaitlin De Luca
Posts: 17
Hi, I need some advice please!
I've just finished sorting an area of the garden that was previously overgrown with brambles etc. Some of it I'm using for leafy veg, but there's a patch about 1.5m square that I want to plant with something pretty. I'm thinking flowers, but edibles would also be good. It gets pretty much no direct sunlight. The soil is pretty poor - hit stones and sand within about a foot - but I have some manure I could dig in.
Ideally I want something soft/frothy and tall. Think those lovely verbena bonariensis. I was thinking of putting a seed mix in, but it's probably too late in the year now. Is there anything I could put in now to get some late summer/autumn colour? Oh, and I want to spend as little as possible (it's a rented property)!
Posts
Verena bonariensis can get very tall so it might look a bit odd unless you have something else at it's feet Kaitlin. Some of the hardy geraniums will do well there, especially if you give them a bit of extra manure and compost to get them going. It's a bit late probably to sow anything for this year so you'd either have to spend on some perennials for now or wait and sow something for next year.
You might get some bargains (perennials) in GCs soon though, and they can be divided to give more plants for your cash
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Oo, I like the angelica idea. I was starting to think grasses, but that is pretty!
Also good tip re reductions at garden centres - maybe I'll wait a bit
Foxgloves will do well in a shady spot.
Geranium pratense 'Summer skies' and Deschampsia caespitosa - flowers, froth, don't mind shade. Maybe add a lower growing geranium in front, or an astrantia. Foxglove or two at the back. Easy and lovely.