Growing flowers under conifers

[birdling]

We have large conifers with poor soil underneath. The area is in full shade, but it's the bit we can see from the house so I want to make the most of it.
I was wondering, if I was to get plants that like full shade, but plant them in large plastic pots with compost and then bury the pots so it looks like they are growing in the ground, would that work? Or would the trees still leach all of the nutrients? I know I can just plant things in nice looking containers, but they are too expensive and I can't afford to get rid of the trees.
Any other ideas? (I'm not much of a gardener - only just developing an interest, so nothing that would require much expertise).

Could you improve the soil with some rotted manure compost and fertilise it maybe twice a year then plant directly into the border? I have exactly the same dilemma at present and just don’t want any new plants to die.

Problem with sunk pots is that the plants will use the nutrients in the soil in the pots and also become root bound and it will be tricky to refresh the nutrients. It could be a bit of a pain.

I have Scots pines and things I have found will grow, even in shade and crappy soil, are spring bulbs like crocuses and snowdrops (actually are snowdrops bulbs? I don't know- they just appeared) and then I bought some creeper plants that provide ground cover but have pretty purple flowers and quite nice variegated leaves. Also cyclamens which have self seeded themselves.

Do you remember what sort of creeper plants you bought?

I have a random Japanese laurel growing under a massive conifer of some sort. It's in total shade from a load of other shrubs, and it's dry as anything under there, but the laurel is doing surprisingly well. It has lovely light and medium green variegated leaves, and big red berries in autumn and winter.

Forget-me-nots might do ok, they’re pretty hardy. Bluebells like shade, though dappled.

Try some Vinca (Periwinkle) it spreads well and I used to have it growing under Laurel.
I have the variegated one and it's been covered in purple flowers since November. I'm growing some up an arch too.
I'd get a few bags of topsoil/compost/manure down first to help the soil.

Great ideas, thanks everyone 😁

Normal (not fancy) perennial geraniums have done well

You'd be better off with plants in a planter.

Gnomes. You can't go wrong with a family of gnomes under a tree. At least one gnome should have a fishing rod. And don't forget to add a little door to the tree.

Actually, thinking about it, this might look quite good! 😂😂😂

I have some dicentra - bleeding hearts in mostly shade under conifers & it's flowering this year, planted last year.

Classic suggestion for dry shade is Cyclamen hederifolium. Late summer flowers then variegated leaves through winter and spring.

IME you might have problems digging holes for decent sized pots amidst conifer roots anyway.

Pachysandra aka Green Carpet low growing evergreen shrub with pretty white flowers in early summer.

No but when it stops raining I’ll go and identify it using my plant identifier app

There will probably be too many roots for you to dig holes big enough for pots.
I like deadnettle, it spreads nicely if it’s happy.

You are all fantastic. Thank you 💐