Design inspiration needed!

[Chimichangaz]

I have a good-sized garden which I need to be low maintenance as I don't have much time to spend on it. I've just done my annual 'getting someone in to clear the crap' and the lawn (jungle...) has been mowed and the flower beds tidied up. I am due to have the fencing between mine and my neighbour replaced in June, which is an opportunity to repaint it a less garish colour. My garden is south-facing but is overshadowed by a lot of trees (I live near a wood), and so the bottom of the garden is in shade 90% of the time (and parts of it never see the sun at all). There is a shed down there which I'm considering replacing with a larger one, and next to the shed is a patch of soil which has a few plants bordering the lawn, and nothing else - except weeds. I have covered it with bark previously to suppress the weeds, which did that job but it looked boring. I would like this to look different, but I don't know how and am looking for inspiration from you lovely mumsnetters.

I love hostas and ferns, and would like some of them in there, but I also like a bit of colour. I've considered getting it paved, but I wouldn't sit up there as it's too shady (I have a patio outside the back door), and so I'm not sure if that would be a waste of money.

I'm also not sure how to tell what type of soil I have?

Any ideas? My budget (not including the shed) would be around £300.

I know the lawn needs some work too - any suggestions on how to make it green again much appreciated!

[sugarplumfairy28]

Some grass seed should sort the grass out. Herbs are a really good way of bulking out areas, plus you can grow them from a cutting so could be incredibly cheap, or a supermarket that sells them in pots. They smell lovely and are low maintenance. I tend to use bulbs for shots of colour, again they're cheap and you can get a decent range that covers from early spring to late summer, you plant them and leave them basically. You can get half sun ones or shade. I love fuchsias, so pretty, they can grow pretty big so will fill a decent gap. I've gotten them out of a Morrisons before for not much money. If you to add some height maybe some climbers, honeysuckle is great, or passion fruit, or perhaps something like a small apple tree in a pot.

I would plant it out with maybe a climber along the back, something like a fuchsias at the back maybe inter spaced with something like a thyme bush, smaller herbs in front of them with hostas and ferns, then plug any gaps and along the front with bulbs. It would give it depth, a bit of variety and should be low maintenance.

[pansydePotter]

Would you consider pyracantha for the back of the garden. If you buy 1.5 metre tall plants now they will cover the fence in no time. They are so easy to look after just prune back a bit if they get out of hand.

[JT05]

My last garden sounds very similar to yours. In the sunny bits we grew colourful plants such as rambling/ climbing roses, bedding plants, lavender, weigelia, philadelphus and also had hanging baskets.
In the shaded parts cranesbill geraniums, hydrangea and hebe did well. Japanese anemone liked dapple shade and did not invade.
There are some low growing plants that do well in shade such as ornamental nettles, the yellow ones seem to be the best!
Amongst the trees I planted clematis Montana that scrambled through the tees to the light.

[Chimichangaz]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'm thinking I will cover most of it with decorative gravel, but leave a border at the back and next to the shed (which I have decided not to replace - I just needed to get rid of the crap )

Your ideas sound great - I will be googling to see what they look like and where to buy them from. JT your post is very descriptive, and sounds lovely!

Can anyone help with how I identify what sort of soil I have please?

TIA

[sugarplumfairy28]

This might help

www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plant-inspiration/find-out-your-soil-type/

[JT05]

I got most of the smaller plants from divisions or cuttings given to me by friends or family. Often people are only too pleased to share things that have become too much for their own gardens. It's a really cheap way to fill a garden. Also it's the season for school/ village fairs and they often have plant stalls.

[pansydePotter]

Recommended on another thread is the Wilko soil and water tester for £5. It sure how reliable it is though.

[buckeejit]

Your fence looks in pretty good nick-is it not? If you could avoid replacing that might be good-I'm painting our similar fence black & looks good against greens

[Chimichangaz]

Buck it's not that run of fence, it's the one at right angles to it that will be replaced but I will be repainting the whole lot. Am tending towards a darker blue but my neighbour has black and it looks good.