What to do with long north east facing shady garden?

[Cherrypi]

Moved into a new house this year with a long garden. What would you do with this space? Thanks.

The sun will be at the far end but there appears to be a conifer like tree shading it. If you are allowed to (if you’re not in a conservation area with tree protection orders/it’s not the neighbour’s tree) and can afford and it’s not blocking a hideous view (although there are nicer ways of blocking the view) get rid. Also get rid of whatever that is in the centre. Even if it’s lovely, it’s stealing light. Also overhanging branches from the neighbouring houses (but chat first obviously and don’t upset anyone).

Then live with it for a while to see where the light and shade is and if anything nice comes up. A year is best if you can.

In the meantime start (if you don’t already know) read up on your subject (garden design and plants for shade). Find out what the soil is like.

If you don’t know much about gardening then join your local library and see if they have online lending - many libraries offer loads of magazines for free on your tablet) and you can read garden magazines to your heart’s content for free and get inspiration and knowledge.

Thanks. We're stuck with the one at the very bottom as it joins with the neighbours five and blocks out the railway. Tempted to remove the middle conifer (not shown) or cut it right back. We have clay soil.

Just copied this for someone else on here, but it has some really nice ideas you could try.

I’d still get rid of the one at the bottom and replace with something nicer if you need to block the view. A fruit tree like an apple or pear, a flowering ornamental cherry or an Amelanchier for spring blossom and autumn colours. Something that lifts the soul and filters the light rather than kills it like a conifer (which, incidentally make the soil acid and mean it’s a sod to plant anything nearby).

On clay soil you can have some lovely roses in the sunniest areas, many are happy in partial shade. I would want climbing roses in your situation on the south, west and east fences. Interplant with clematis for longer interest.

You need to decide how much you like gardening and what your needs are (and family’s needs if you have any).

I’d chop that garden horizontally, so you have a long series of square gardens instead of a long corridor. Doesn’t need to be a solid barrier, a couple of plants a metre high would do it. Don’t have the entry between one garden and the next all in in the middle or all the same side, vary it a bit.

and get rid of the bush in the middle.

I disagree with removing the tree right in the middle. Without it, the garden will be a long, thin, lacklustre rectangle with nothing to break it up. I'd get rid of all the low-down stuff at the base, and clean spindly bits of the multiple trunks, thereby 'crown lifting' as it's called. That will bring more light in lower down, and also retain some structure.

With the ridiculously hot summer we had last year, and the likelihood (what with climate change and all that) of future summers being similar, then you will honestly be grateful of all that shade.

What sort of conifer is the middle one you mention but isn't shown? It could be worth thinning it out to a better shape and to let in more light, and removing some lower branches on that as well.

You have the potential for a delightful woodland glade garden there, and it could be really lovely with the right tweaks.

Thank you. I think the person who designed this garden had watched that video. It makes more sense now. We have ivy at the top near the house and a blue shed. This is the view further up with the mystery tree in it. I'm not sure what it is. I'm a new gardener. I like the idea of a woodland glade garden and keeping some of the shade. I do love next door's blossom trees. A fruit tree would be amazing but I'm not sure it would grow under next doors big trees at the bottom. Maybe I could paint the fence. Would a pond be a daft idea?

Yes I'd want to get that conifer down, it's not what you want for a woodland feel. I'd also get rid of the bush in the middle, it looks very much plonked there. Meredint's idea of dividing it is interesting.

I would definitely get rid of that conifer too, it's already quite big and might get even bigger. You can replace it with something much nicer which will give you far more options.

A pond would very much be a good idea.

Draw a scale plan of the garden, on it plot where the shade and sun are during the day. I’d divide the garden up, but in possibly 3 triangles with a zig zag path.
the size of each triangle might be light and shade dependent.
The soil under the trees might be quite poor, so digging in some soil improver will help.
There are loads of plants that like dappled shade have a Google at the RHS website for a list and advice. A natural pond is a great idea to encourage wildlife.
Also have a look at Pinterest for ‘ long shaded’ garden ideas. Have fun!