Gardening

[Pubey]

**** me this is going to be a boring thread. Here goes...

I've dug out some beds in my garden. The garden is pretty shaded and stays reasonably damp. I'm looking for some nice plants and shrubs to plant which won't cost a fortune and are fairly idiot-proof.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Already got an acer and a hydrangea.

 

[Berrichonne shrimper]

Go to your local CONCRETE PLANT job done.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I love gardens.

Here is mine. I do the concrete bits (although I laid a bit of astroturf this weekend as well) , my wife does the plants but I dig the big holes...

 

[MK Shrimper]

I love gardens.

Here is mine. I do the concrete bits (although I layer a bit of astroturf this weekend) , my wife dies the plants.

View attachment 3326

Very impressive, even if Mrs MC dies the plants. Mine is a bomb site, though have a load of broad beans growing quite happily.

Crabby Shrimper is your man Pubes. He is Charlie Dimmock in a yellow scarf.

 

[Mad Cyril]

Very impressive, even if Mrs MC dies the plants. Mine is a bomb site, though have a load of broad beans growing quite happily.

Crabby Shrimper is your man Pubes. He is Charlie Dimmock in a yellow scarf.

Do you have a fridge in your back garden?

 

[MK Shrimper]

Do you have a fridge in your back garden?

No just lots of mud and weeds :sad:

 

[Pubey]

Your garden looks great, Cyril. :thumbsup:

 

[Mad Cyril]

Your garden looks great, Cyril. :thumbsup:

It's mostly my wife's work however I sometimes water the plants whilst drinking a chilled bottle of continental strength lager.

 

[steveo]

Nice patio slabs Cyril.

 

[Mad Cyril]

Nice patio slabs Cyril.

Which patio? I have two....

 

[OldBlueLady]

Lupins and fuchsias are pretty fool hardy and don't need a lot of looking after, herbs are good too, and lavender.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I am a big fan of Trachycarpus wich I feel add a touch of continental glamour.

 

[Pubey]

Lupins and fuchsias are pretty fool hardy and don't need a lot of looking after, herbs are good too, and lavender.

I should have added that we already have a herb garden, lavender and a fuchsia.

Will have a look a some lupins. However our dirty industrial northern soil and lack of sunlight for most of the year might be an issue.:winking:

 

[OldBlueLady]

I should have added that we already have a herb garden, lavender and a fuchsia.

Will have a look a some lupins. However our dirty industrial northern soil and lack of sunlight for most of the year might be an issue.:winking:

Lol, well there you go, you have some pretty tough stuff in already! My in laws grew lupins ok, and they were further north than you. They are in partial shade but in a bright part of my garden. I have a load of nerines which are great too, they flower with great trumpet like heads in the autumn when everything starts to go a bit dark, and have great clumps of green leaves the rest of the year. Don't have to do anything with them, except clear them back once they've flowered.

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

**** me this is going to be a boring thread. Here goes...

I've dug out some beds in my garden. The garden is pretty shaded and stays reasonably damp. I'm looking for some nice plants and shrubs to plant which won't cost a fortune and are fairly idiot-proof.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Already got an acer and a hydrangea.

for low plants, Bluebells will take the shade quite well. Also Heucheras, and Hostas (watch for slugs!). Vinca (periwinkle) is also a decent ground cover plant.

For larger perennials, fox glove (digitalis) is good (though it's also poisonous), or Acanthus spinosus, another flower spike plant.

Lupins are great. they prefer a slightly acidic soil, but will also take neutral. Think too much shade will leave them a bit disappointing though.

If you've acidic soil (if your hydrangea is blue, and stays blue, your soil will be acidic) then skimmias are nice medium sized shrubs and pieris can be anything from a small, to a large shrub with flowers, and good coloured growth in spring.

Viburnums can take some shade. Davidii is a tad dull (in my opinion) but Tinus is a nice evergreen with white spring flowers. Also consider a Bodnantense, or better still burkwoodii, or carlesi. The latter two are particularly good in shade, and come into flower around March. What makes them special, though, is the scent.

Add to this, rhododendrons and camellias (again, for acidic soil) and there's plenty to choose from

 

[Pubey]

Brilliant. Thanks!

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

Brilliant. Thanks!

No problem. I manage the plant section of a garden centre, so if you need any more help, just pm me

 

[RHB]

]**** me this is going to be a boring thread[/I]. Here goes...

I've dug out some beds in my garden. The garden is pretty shaded and stays reasonably damp. I'm looking for some nice plants and shrubs to plant which won't cost a fortune and are fairly idiot-proof.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Already got an acer and a hydrangea.

You weren't wrong!!

 

[Rob Noxious]

Mrs Noxious has grown a chamomile lawn. It is pleasingly fragrant. And here's how you can grow it too >https://lisasallotment.wordpress.com/category/chamomile-lawn-2/ < should you be so inclined.

 

[Pubey]

for low plants, Bluebells will take the shade quite well. Also Heucheras, and Hostas (watch for slugs!). Vinca (periwinkle) is also a decent ground cover plant.

For larger perennials, fox glove (digitalis) is good (though it's also poisonous), or Acanthus spinosus, another flower spike plant.

Lupins are great. they prefer a slightly acidic soil, but will also take neutral. Think too much shade will leave them a bit disappointing though.

If you've acidic soil (if your hydrangea is blue, and stays blue, your soil will be acidic) then skimmias are nice medium sized shrubs and pieris can be anything from a small, to a large shrub with flowers, and good coloured growth in spring.

Viburnums can take some shade. Davidii is a tad dull (in my opinion) but Tinus is a nice evergreen with white spring flowers. Also consider a Bodnantense, or better still burkwoodii, or carlesi. The latter two are particularly good in shade, and come into flower around March. What makes them special, though, is the scent.

Add to this, rhododendrons and camellias (again, for acidic soil) and there's plenty to choose from

Thanks again. Bought a skimmia (japonica?), a camellia (japonica too) and a couple of lupins. Also chucked in a cheap hibiscus i spotted in Wilkos.

I saw a really nice pieris and kind of regretting not buying it but had already spent enough, and my garden is tiny.