Dry, acid soil with partial shade under a tree

[PostNotInHaste]

Helping plant up a garden and it’s not the easiest as soil is acid, there are a couple of trees so very dry but does get some sun. Friend wants colour in the summer.

I’ve got got a couple of Autumn Joy type sedum and a Japanese Anenome potted up plus a small bit of Aster, a Geranium rozanne. Was thinking maybe to buy a hydrangea. Could do with some suggestions and I know she wants to put in a load of bedding plants for this year so any suggestions on which ones are best bet for the conditions? Many thanks.

Tricky - I don't think the hydrangea would like dry much.

In terms of bedding plants, I'm not too keen on them but begonias will tolerate both dry and shade better than many others.

I found a couple of varieties of hydrangea have come up when I googled dry shade so hoping one might survive. I’m also not keen on begonias but rather desperate so needs must ! Am planning to dig biggish holes fir bedding and stick a load of compost in and see if that helps.

Do you think the others I’ve listed will be ok? She likes Bowles Mauve which has flourished in incredibly poor dry soil in a raised bed here so hoping it might be ok. Thanks for your help. Was on GCSE thread with you, hope your DD is well and happy.

Yes she is - well, possibly a bit stressed as she has a week and a bit of second year uni exams starting tomorrow! Hope your DC is also fine?

Her being away and me taking more interest in gardening are doubtless correlated....

Whether bedding plants thrive or merely survive can depend so much on what the weather turns out to be, but big holes and compost can surely never be a bad idea!

Some asters get mildew IME if they don't get enough water through the summer, but the others you've mentioned sound like they may be fine.

Oh bless her and hope they go well. DD is the one who vomited a lot during GCSE then went off abroad to language school for a couple of weeks after, returned with a not boyfriend in tow who eventually got promoted and then dropped out in sixth form. She got herself sorted and just finished first year on a creative degree and gets a Cert. of Higher Ed for that, university and course was a bit rubbish to be fair about another course change. She’s blagged her way onto year 2 of a language and translation degree which is where I think will suit her way . Mandatory year 3 abroad so needs to start applying for that in Autumn.

Meanwhile younger DC rudely continued growing up and year 11 looms and it’s all different with this number thing. To date he is has been a smoother ride and is very different so expect different challenges.

Can definitely see the correlation between DD going and gardening ! I think friend will be good at watering unlike me so things have a better chance than if they were in my garden ! We’re doing a bit of plant shopping soon so will see if can find anything else, I think she’d love a rose so am thinking can try one in side border where much sunnier and not as near tree and then some climbers on the fence which again is sunny and not so dry as main border, though fairly acidic I think as azalea doing very well.

Unfortunately gardening against nature is difficult and colour in dry shad is a bit of a challenge. If there’s some sun there’s more hope - maybe some cranesbills? Nepeta? (although they mostly like chalk I’ve found new varieties are more tolerant).

There is a reasonable amount of sun I think hence my cautious optimism..

If there's some sun and your friend will water, and you can do the usual digging in of organic matter and mulching which is always recommended, I expect it will be ok.

As to DDs ... as with garden paths, some take a straight line , others meander! sounds like yours has reached a good point by the more circuitous route.

What about epimediums? Not sure about colour in summer (perhaps leaf colour), but
they "are great low-maintenance perennials that thrive in dry soil, and associate well with plants like hellebores and spring bulbs. Best grown in an acid soil." (www.gardenersworld.com/plants/20-plants-for-dry-shade/)

You can buy them online (Crocus, Burncoose, etc.) and also here: www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Epimedium.html

Good call Nicasia, they can go on the list, thanks.

Errol I haven’t broken it to her yet that i’m planning to dump a load of well rotted manure on it, she’s very house proud and not sure how she will feel about it. So it will be always referred to as ‘organic matter’. My DD is indeed a meandering path, possibly influenced by our wrap around garden with more corners to turn