Newbie needs advice

[LozLouLou]

Hi all,
I am a complete garden novice but have had to pick up the reins from my dear old Dad.. I have an area to clear (can I add pictures?) under 4 huge pine trees. It’s currently overgrown with some pretty (but obviously weed) blue flowers, thistles and nettles.
It was once a nice bed with other plants and shrubs but needs stripping back.
Once I’ve cleared it all, what do I do to try and stop it growing back? What’s best to plant under pine trees with the minimum upkeep (I’m no gardener) but will cover a large space.
And/or how do I stop the weeds growing back!?
Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received.

That's a large area isn't it! Once the weeds are clear what is left? I think groundcovering plants like vinca (periwinkle), epimediums, ajuga or hardy geraniums would work well to suppress weeds. I would be looking for woodland perennials and shrubs for dry shade that are vigorous. Ivy can be used as ground cover and would be vigorous enough to suppress weeds fairly quickly plus it would not cost much if you're on a budget. If you want something more ornamental, ferns, japanese anemones, hellebores,
sarcococca, mahonia etc will handle dry shade and look lovely.

Mulch any bare areas with woodchip.

Thank you so much - brilliant suggestions though I’ll have to look some (most!) of them up! I just want low maintenance and not looking jungle like!

The blue stuff is I think Blue Alkanet and it has deep tap roots. That means you will need to dig out the very long roots. Try not to break them and get it all out. You might have to repeat this more than once before you replant the area.

Periwinkle would be very happy there and quickly spread to form a thick bed of evergreen foliage with purple flowers in the summer. Very low maintenance - all I’ve ever done to mine is mow the edge where it tries to come onto the lawn. But it’s quite a thug so if you’re planning a mixed border I’d be hesitant about introducing it otherwise you’ll spend your life cutting it back.

Agree re the alkanet - you’ll need to have a good go at digging out the tap roots and you’ll inevitably have to leave some in that will grow back, particularly since you’re digging around tree roots. To eradicate it entirely you need to get v good at recognising it early and pull the tiny shoots, if you’re less particular then just grab handfuls whenever you notice them and make sure you take the tops off before it finishes flowering so it doesn’t self seed any further - pollinators love it so I do try and leave some flowers around, they’re always covered in bees.

Nettles, alkanet and thistles are wonderful for wildlife. Could you leave a patch, or leave it all and call it your wildlife patch?

It was once a nice bed with other plants and shrubs but needs stripping back

Given your reference to your dad, was this years ago when you were a child that there was a nice bed? If so, it's probably the case that the the trees have grown so much that they are providing much much more shadow and you won't get the same kind of bed back now the trees are older.

bluebells seem to grow well under trees bizarrely.

A shade-loving type of grass and keep it mown is easiest. Maybe with bluebells planted under and then don’t stay summer mowing until they’ve been and gone.

Thanks everyone for the information and your advice.
I’m thinking I actually might just leave it given what you’re both said; the bees really do love it so that’s one good thing I guess. And I don’t think I have the time (or inclination, to be honest!) to keep on top of it all the time. I’ll just have to get the kids to make a “wild garden” sign 😂
I’ll try and get rid of the nettles though. They’re really tall and I don’t like them.
One thing though… how tall do the blue flowers grow?
I wasn’t here as a child but my Dad loves gardening and always kept everything so lovely for us. The area used to really pop with colour but sadly age is catching up with him and I see him struggling now.

If the blue flowers are Green Alkanet, then about 0.75m

Nettles are literally one of the best plants for native British wildlife, if you can find it in your heart to keep a few 😉

I will - I do like to see the bees, I have to say. They’re just sooo tall!

@Turkeyhen 's planting suggestions were brilliant.

I really like the idea of the wildlife garden with the blue Alkanet as the star suggestion. Your kids could create bug hotels and you could put up bird houses, make bird feeders and install a hedgehog house. Could you have a secret fairy garden amongst the plants? Or create a small pond in an old tub and piles of logs as homes for insects?

If you wanted a really quick and easy way to make the area look more groomed, you could sweep up and remove the weeds outside of the log roll edging and cut the shrub in the centre of the patch into a neat ball shape. Then you would have the fantastic wildlife area AND the illusion of a perfectly tended patch.

I agree. That's a well established community for all sorts. Be a shame to rip it all out.

I let the blur alkenet flower because its the earliest flower for bees in my garden. I just pull it up once the flowers gave gone. Cyclamen work well under trees and spread around but you need a lot to make a good display.