I have a new garden to play with, can anyone help?

Question

The garden is 30ft by 16ft. half shaded for most of the day. The lawn that is down is mossy to say the least.
My husband and I both work so would prefer low maintenance.
I was thinking about a majority of pebbles and patios interspersed with planters with raised beds. Can anyone suggest good plants that need little doing to them that will cope in shade.
3/4 of the garden is shaded most of the day.

Many Thanks

Answer 1

Shrubs that tolerate shade are the easiest to care for and can provide texture, shape, scent, and color as desired.

For partial shade in moist rich soil consider Enkianthus,
Kinnikinnick, Star Magnolia, Styrax (Snowbell), Corylopsis

If you have average/rich soil Viburnum shoshoni , or Hamamelis (Witch-Hazel), Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea)



Scented; Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet), Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet), Corylopsis (Winterhazel), Daphne, Hamamelis (Witch-Hazel), Osmanthus delavayi, Skimmia

Fall color; Clethra, Enkianthus, Fothergilla, Viburnum shoshoni

Variegated/non-green foliage; Caryopteris , Leucothoe(Rainbow bush), Smoketree, Spirea,



Perennial include
Acanthus caroli Bear's britches
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides Dwarf Plumbago
Hellebore spp.
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low' catmint
Pulmonaria longifolia Lungwort
Thalictrum delavayi 'Hewitt's Double' Double Meadow Rue
Veronica peduncularis 'Geogia Blue' Speedwell
Astrantia major cvs 'Claret' 'Ruby Wedding'
Primrose spp
Parahebe perfoliata (trailes so run it down an edge)
Fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) fragrance! This can create a very attractive screen in front of an ugly fence, or you can 'soften' the hard appearance of a brick wall or the side of a garage or let it scramble up a pillar to add height in a bed.

Answer 2

You don't say what zone you live in. I live in zone 6, lower New England, so my suggestions are for this zone. Many of these plants will also do well in many other zones. If you have moss, that means the ground is probably slow in draining water. Plants that do well in moist, shady places are Astible; there are many different varieties and colors, they are perennial, as long as they are well watered they do well. Bleeding Heart; white or the traditional red, though this plant dies back in early summer, it blooms in the spring. Hosta, Cimicifuga, foxglove, Lobelia, Columbine, Ladies Mantle, for ground cover, Lily-of-the-valley, violets (not african violets) and sweet woodruff are really good, and spread quickly. One caution is that both lily-of-the-valley and violets can get out of hand. The rest I mentioned really should be planted in the ground, they are all shade loving perennials, with little care they will come back year after year.
Other than that I would suggest talking to your local nursery people. They will be better able to tell you what will do well in your area with the type of soil, light and drainage you have.

Answer 3

Hi I've put dwarf conifers different sizes and colours in my shady border with hostas and grape hyacinths daffodills are good here too a wide gravel path meanders in front of this with a small knobbly wall either side then a big area of wood chips with shrubs in it a maple tree and a laverteria and another dripping with yellow blossom look so good on the brown chips on the sunny bit there is a patio for a bar-b-q and a table set all i do is prune it all once a year and shred the bitz-GOOD LUCK !!

Answer 4

I recommend going to your local garden centre for advice. They will know what is good in your area eg coastal plants might thrive where you are.That's what I did when I moved to a new house with a garden (my first garden!). I took some photos and a ground plan showing dimensions (& north) and the advice was free.

My garden centre also had some special offers like buy 5 shrubs and they would send a gardener to your house to plant them for you!

Answer 5

Hosta's, hosta's and more hosta's!!! They are perennials and come in various shades of green(from a pale green to dark green to blue green), different sizes and shapes and some are variegated. They require very little care if planted in shade. Don't over water and do feed and mulch for appearance and to prevent insects. They are prone to slugs if soil is too moist but with mulch, their leaves are protected. In the winter months cover with mulch and divide them about every 3 years. You didn't say what zone you are in for planting so be sure and check with a local nursery.

Answer 6

I grow lawn chamomile in terracotta pots, they form round mounds that look and smell great. Mint & chives prefer shade. You could put some thyme, parsley, lavendar and rosemary in the sunny part for a herb garden.
Hebe is easy, it only needs a prune now and then to keep the shape. These rounded mounds look great among slabs, gravel etc. and they're easy to grow and maintain.
Viburnum officinalis flowers in early winter and smells spicy. There are other scented viburnums;
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/fragrant/2004062551022245.html
Juniper is slow growing and suitable for a small garden.

Answer 7

I'm sorry and I hope this doesn't offend anyone but I thought it would be funny to mention. When I first glanced at the question I saw "I have a new gardenER to play with, can anyone help?"
Better get the eyes checked.

Answer 8

Digitalis (foxglove) are tall up to 3 foot and love shade.Hosta (plantain lily) are perfect in shady spots and can do well in pots but must be divided early spring. Viola are nice and if you deadhead them it prolongs the flowering season.Visit your local garden centre and ask there.Others are; Bussy lizzies, Shuttlecock fern, Bamboo..... loads more.Can i suggest visiting a book shop i have one that specialises in shady gardens.then you can plan exactly what you want.

Answer 9

multi story car park

Answer 10

http://uktv.co.uk/index.cfm/uktv/Gardens.stepbystep/aid/187
List of ideas in this link.....