Ok gardeners, what can i do with the bottom of my garden, shaded area, slightly boggy?

[Marne]

I have a large garden, starts off wide (by the house) and then gets thiner at the bottom, the bottom of the garden is slightly boggy due to the trees on the other side of the fence, the dog keeps churning up the mud and it looks a mess. What can i do with it (other than a compost heep)?

Hens.

sounds like my garden! I recommend adding a load of composty stuff and maybe a bit of sand if it's clay-ey? plant a ton of ferns and periwinkles, provide ground cover quickly in dark places. I have a hydrangea which doesn't do badly in the dank dark bit of my garden, despite supposedly needing sunlight. or some of those bushes that grow anywhere - can't remember the name but they are the one shrub that literally will grow in Chernobyl, councils always use them, evergreen - then fill in the gaps with slate chippings to keep the dog off.

Hen's - I wish, i have a thing about chickens (they have odd looking feet) but like the thought of fresh eggs .

omaoma- your ideas sound great, thank you.

We have a boggy area and planted a willow tree - they drink tons of water, and it is thriving. But only if it is quite a way from your house / other buildings so it doesn't damage them.

Sounds like my back garden...
Astroturf?
Seriously though - ferns & hostas, bit of gravel/chippings.

Yes, hostas are lovely. But attract slugs as I found a couple of years back.

Fairies.

Have a bog garden.

www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/bog_garden/