Help me plan a difficult border

[LemondrizzleShark]

We live in a conservation area, and have been notified we need at least 50% “soft planting” in our front garden. Unfortunately our front garden is a) north-facing, and b) overshadowed for most of the day by a large cordyline tree and a 5 ft privet hedge on three sides. The previous owners had grass which unsurprisingly died so replaced with slate chippings.

Give me some suggestions for a 2x2m border which will thrive in partial shade, on heavy London clay, moderately dry (we are up a hill and the cordyline tree roots and privet take up a fair amount of water, plus our summers are fairly hot and dry). Then also needs to look nice under a cordyline - I was considering woodland planting with hellebores and cyclamen, but I think that will look odd with a massive palm tree in the middle. Exotic planting mostly won’t do well in north-facing partial shade.

Oh, and we also have a massive slug problem! So no hostas!

I was thinking ferns, fuchsias, maybe lilies if I can get them to grow. What else might work?

Yes I have two under a tree in very dry soil (chalk) and they seem really happy. Took a year or so to establish.

Yes I have two under a tree in very dry soil (chalk) and they seem really happy. Took a year or so to establish.

My astilbes have loved my garden until this year and I thinks it’s been too dry for them. My sedum is happy in the shade in the dry though.

This article might be helpful. I am intending to do something like this. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/28/hardcore-landscaping-how-to-grow-a-garden-on-sand-gravel-and-concrete

Is a cordyline legally a tree?

It technically isn't a tree. But yes, conservation area rules can be tricky.

I'd be looking at ferns, hostas, some of the more shade tolerant hardy geraniums, Brunnera. I wouldn't go with bigger shrubs there,won't suit the size/ within the hedge.

You should be able to argue that the cordyline can go - it's not native, it's a shrub, it's not in keeping with the environment, and it's hideous (in my opinion). Tell them you'll replace it with something more attractive like an acer or a birch? They can be more lenient if you're putting a tree in where it was. That would give you scope for a more cohesive woodland planting plan.

Sarcococca / sweet box (may not have spelled it right) but it's a tough evergreen and thrives in my dry north facing bed, next to the Japanese anemones and hellebores, and it smells fabulous when it flowers in February although the flowers are fairly insignificant.

And once you have it established, you can hack it back to the height you want.

OP have you tried applying for permission? If you live in a conservation area, could you not submit a planting plan of native, shade loving plants that includes the removal of the cordyline? I can’t think of what sort of architecture/ environment you live in where a cordyline is in keeping (sorry, not sorry, I am not a fan). Explain that your new, proposed planting plan will enhance the area but is dependent on the removal of this introduced species?

I don’t really want to remove it to be honest - DS loves it, it isn’t causing any problems and I’m not really looking to undertake major tree surgery, just minor landscaping to get permission for the bike shed.

Your situation made me think of Nigel Dunnett’s planting at the Barbican. One of the areas has what he calls Dry Woodland planting. I’ve attached a screenshot but theres a bit more information on his website

All I can say is good luck with getting the slate up to plant. The person who owned my house previously had similar landscaping using small red rocks. It's been a battle to remove them so that I can plant anything. Hopefully the slate does not go down too far

There is weed membrane visible underneath, so I was optimistically envisaging just sort of lifting it all up at the corners and sliding the slate off into a skip, like shaking crumbs off a tablecloth!

I’m worried now! 🤣

That looks interesting, thank you I will take a look.