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Shade plants?
first time gardener
Posts: 26
in Plants
I have a strip down the side of my garden where I'd like to plant some evergreens. The area is about 15m long and 1/2m wide. It is north facing so doesn't get much sun, if any at all and is also alongside next doors privet hedge which I'm assuming takes a lot of the moisture from the ground? Is there anything that will grow other than conifers and ferns? Thank you
0
Posts
HOSTAS !!!
Some hardy geraniums are evergreen. Don't know the name, but there's a pink one with scented leaves and a whitish one
2 for dry shade that I've recently put in:
-Euphorbia (the robbiae type).
-Geranium Samobor.
The euphorbia has settled in really well and is flowering already.
Google them for pics to see if you like them.
I think there's more geranium varieties available for dry shade.
You could also put in Spring flowering bulbs.
Bergenias are supposed to cope with some dry shade but I've never tried them.
Add some compost and keep them well watered this year, drought tolerant plants are only drought tolerant once established, in season 1 you need to look after them.
There are lots of shade loving plants but to help them establish, growna nd thrive you'l need to improve the soil. This can be done by adding a good layer of compost before planting. You can use bags bought form the DIY store or garden centre but make sure it's intended for plants and not for seeds and cuttings as you need the nutrients.
Some hostas will like it but they are not evergreen. Hardy geranium macrorhizum will do well. It has scented leaves, white, pink or fuchsia coloured flowers in late sporing and the leaves turn red in winter. Pachysandra has glowwy green foliage and white flowers. Variegated ivy can be grown as ground cover if you peg down the shoots as they grow and will provide some colour.
Bergenias come with either green or purple foliage and produce flowers in spring. Some ferns, such as dryoperis marginalis, are evergreen.
Look these up online and at your local garden centre and nursery and then select the ones you like to make either a single variety carpet or a tapestry of form and colour as you prefer. Plant them with enough space between them to grow to full size and water in well then maybe mulch with some chipped bark or gravel to keep down weeds and set off the plants.
don't forget the Hostas ,
IS THE CORRECT ANSWER. WELL DONE YOU.
I believe some people plant hostas in that situation. Has anyone mentioned that?