Did you get round to testing the acidity? There are a lot of myths about clay soil and it isn't always as nutrient-rich as people imagine. Or at least, it can be difficult to unlock the nutrients that are there. You have done the right thing digging in muck, and adding sharp sand or grit is also very good. As you open up the clay and air gets in and the texture improves it becomes better and better as a growing medium. However, some clay is quite acid and some has chalk in it. They suit very different plants so it is worth checking yours before you buy the plants.
I would definitely widen the borders if you can and would suggest a clematis, rather than ivy, for that back fence or maybe a repeat flowering rambling rose. This one will provide colour and perfume and is good in shade and gets to about the right size for that fence - http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/the-lady-of-the-lake-rambling-rose
Train it o some horizontal wires stretched and tensioned between vine eyes. If the fence isn't yours you'll need permission form the neighbours or else you could erect tall posts on your side and stretch wires on those or trellis panels if you prefer.
There are also plenty of clematis that will grow in shade as well as perfumed honeysuckle - lonicera japonica Halliana - and you can train pyracantha as a wall shrub - spring blossom, autumn berries and evergreen foliage so excellent for wildlife and seasonal interest..
Lots to think about and lots of possibilities.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
With regards to the rose or a climber, how many plants do you suggest for that area? It's about 6m long. The shadiest area is the right hand side, which never gets sun and the more towards the left you go, the more sun there is as the day goes on. For that right hand side area, at the front, I was thinking of geraniums (any of phaeum Album, phaeum samobor, mac spessart, mac ingwersen).
Here's how the sun levels look now, 11am, from a more birds eye view:
Posy, I've not done a test in that area but have done a test in a different part of the garden which came up acidic. I'll definitely do that this weekend!
Thanks for the suggestions on a climber at the back. I hadn't realised there'd be such nice options available !
Really like that hydrangea and the rambling rose. Tough choice !
id like to interplant geranium spessart / ingwersens and bergenia silberlicht for the front of that shade border. I'm wondering if there is anything upright / spire like I could plant as the second tier behind the geranium and in front of the climber. Something like a verbena, celapharia, veronicastrum but that could deal with shade to semi shade (the taller part of the plant would get sun once tall enough, but not at the lower level or when it is still young).
Foxgloves give a vertical accent and like shade - I like the white ones. Cimifuga and Ligularia (like some moisture) and Thalictrum would be worth considering. Lysimachia ephemerum. Never grown it but it looks nice in the pictures I've seen. And Aconitum!
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Tiarella Would grow quite happily in a shady area. Will clump up quite nicely and grows to about 30cm tall. Pink skyrocket is one of my favourites but is often an over looked plant by gardeners. I don't know why as it is easy to grow, flowers from spring through to summer and then you still have the greenery for a bit of colour during the winter months. What's not to love?
To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.
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Did you get round to testing the acidity? There are a lot of myths about clay soil and it isn't always as nutrient-rich as people imagine. Or at least, it can be difficult to unlock the nutrients that are there. You have done the right thing digging in muck, and adding sharp sand or grit is also very good. As you open up the clay and air gets in and the texture improves it becomes better and better as a growing medium. However, some clay is quite acid and some has chalk in it. They suit very different plants so it is worth checking yours before you buy the plants.
It's looking a lot better. Well done.
I would definitely widen the borders if you can and would suggest a clematis, rather than ivy, for that back fence or maybe a repeat flowering rambling rose. This one will provide colour and perfume and is good in shade and gets to about the right size for that fence - http://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/the-lady-of-the-lake-rambling-rose
Train it o some horizontal wires stretched and tensioned between vine eyes. If the fence isn't yours you'll need permission form the neighbours or else you could erect tall posts on your side and stretch wires on those or trellis panels if you prefer.
There are also plenty of clematis that will grow in shade as well as perfumed honeysuckle - lonicera japonica Halliana - and you can train pyracantha as a wall shrub - spring blossom, autumn berries and evergreen foliage so excellent for wildlife and seasonal interest..
Lots to think about and lots of possibilities.
Hi Obelixx,
With regards to the rose or a climber, how many plants do you suggest for that area? It's about 6m long. The shadiest area is the right hand side, which never gets sun and the more towards the left you go, the more sun there is as the day goes on. For that right hand side area, at the front, I was thinking of geraniums (any of phaeum Album, phaeum samobor, mac spessart, mac ingwersen).
Here's how the sun levels look now, 11am, from a more birds eye view:
Posy, I've not done a test in that area but have done a test in a different part of the garden which came up acidic. I'll definitely do that this weekend!
Last edited: 25 March 2017 10:53:34
How about a climbing hydrangea like hydrangea petiolaris to grow up the shady side of the fence
http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/hydrangea-anomala-subsp-petiolaris/classid.1665/
I should think it will all be much the same. LOTS of lovely plants to choose from - enjoy!
Thanks for the suggestions on a climber at the back. I hadn't realised there'd be such nice options available !
Really like that hydrangea and the rambling rose. Tough choice !
id like to interplant geranium spessart / ingwersens and bergenia silberlicht for the front of that shade border. I'm wondering if there is anything upright / spire like I could plant as the second tier behind the geranium and in front of the climber. Something like a verbena, celapharia, veronicastrum but that could deal with shade to semi shade (the taller part of the plant would get sun once tall enough, but not at the lower level or when it is still young).
Foxgloves give a vertical accent and like shade - I like the white ones. Cimifuga and Ligularia (like some moisture) and Thalictrum would be worth considering. Lysimachia ephemerum. Never grown it but it looks nice in the pictures I've seen. And Aconitum!
As for your narrow bed, I'd just do clipped box and be done with it
Tiarella Would grow quite happily in a shady area. Will clump up quite nicely and grows to about 30cm tall. Pink skyrocket is one of my favourites but is often an over looked plant by gardeners. I don't know why as it is easy to grow, flowers from spring through to summer and then you still have the greenery for a bit of colour during the winter months. What's not to love?