What to plant in awkward spot.

[gardennewb]

We have a little bed (built directly on the ground a few years ago, so filled with compost but on an awful clay soil) at the back of our garden. It gets very little light as it is between a fence and a Wendy house and under a big tree, which I suspect is also leaching the nutrients away. Is there anything I can plant in such a hostile environment that has a chance of survival? WE have had limited success over the years but as the tree grows and with the addition of the Wendy house everything died almost instantly this year and I am totally clueless walking around the garden centre. TIA.

Ferns? It’s what the victorians used to plant in dark slightly damp areas.

Think of it as woodland? Thoughts on plants from RHS and GW
I think that I'd also treat it as the Wendy House's own little garden and make it magical for the DC.

Just watching Gardeners World and there is an item coming up about making a wildlife habitat! Just a thought.

@viques

Just watching Gardeners World and there is an item coming up about making a wildlife habitat! Just a thought.

Big pile of rotting logs full of creepy crawlies, with a few ferns, probably Polypody. That’d work!

@senua

Think of it as woodland? Thoughts on plants from RHS and GW I think that I'd also treat it as the Wendy House's own little garden and make it magical for the DC.

That's the idea, it is colour coordinating and contains a little windmill so I was hoping to make it a fairy garden but it's not much of a garden with no plants! I'll try ferns!

Oops sorry, someone else said ferns. I'll have a look on those websites, thanks!

Oooh big pile of logs with creepy crawlies! That makes my teacher head very excited 😆

How about a bug hotel?

If it's a deciduous tree then you could also plant some woodland bulbs (eg snowdrops, wild-type daffodils, english bluebells) and other spring woodland flowers (celandine, wood anemone, primroses etc). Spring before the tree leaves emerge is the time woodlands have the prettiest flowers and it's a joy to see them emerge in succession.

I'd probably use some pots around the Wendy house - easier for kids to plant up themselves, and you can swap them around seasonally.

Liriope muscari is a good do-er for dry shade under trees.

Hellebores? We have some in raised beds in deep shade and they seem to thrive.