A shady, stony, weed-ridden patch - WWYD?

[bondgirl77]

I have a patch left at the bottom of my garden where an old shed and 'dumping ground' used to be. I don't think anything will grow there as it is so shady and stony, it's next to a new shed. Any suggestions as to what to do with it? I'm on the point of getting it turfed over, but wonder if there is even much point in that or whether it's just a waste of money - will the grass even grow there? Or should I just pave/deck the area and use it as an extra patio?

will watch with interest - have one of these too - shady (trees on other side of garden wall) and dry. The old man who used to live here dumped his rubbish there for years. Currently we dump garden waste there (awaiting skip), plus compost bins. But wondering what to do longer term - there are ferns, a buddleia (but not a very nice one) and lots of weeds (nettles ok, butterflies like)

There are some great plants for shadier areas. To improve the soil you can remove as many stones as poss and then dump a load of manure (well-rotted) on top and let the worms begin to work it through. I grow a Japanese anemone, some ferns, a fatsia japonica and some shade loving geraniums including phaeum album and samobor, white foxgloves amongst other things. White flowers look especially good in the shade as they stand out very well against the dark background. There is a great mint called mentha requenii which is a ground cover plant that smells divine, it can also be used as a lawn substitute for low traffic, shady areas. It is an amazing plant. I am starting to love shade gardening actually. Rheum palmatum and rodgersia have massive leaves and can also tolerate shade (ideally dappled). I have an acer palmatum in a glazed ceramic pot in the dappled shade in my garden but it is very sheltered which is what Japanese maples need.

You can find a shady lawn seed mixture in the garden centre, I planted some and it is doing well but I don't think total shade is ever great for lawns.

HTH

Could you add shingle and let plants seed themselves there?
Or make it into a useful utility area where you store garden things such as potting bench/spare pots/compost bin etc?

Not sure its worth turfing it and would you use a very shady patio?
How old are your DCs? You could put a playhouse for them there, or create a secret garden/hidden area, perhaps with a willow den.

I'd agree with Honesty Box - that sounds a wonderful idea for a planting, especially if you go for all white colours. How about adding in a white piece of furniture or a pale statue, to draw the eye as well?

I also saw an interesting idea at the weekend in a shade garden - tree paeonies used for their foliage, rather than their flowers .

I love shade gardening myself.

Brilliant suggestions everyone! My DS is nearly 3 he would love a little house down there. Maybe I should put a few plants in and let it get a bit wild. And put a playhouse down there hidden away. Hooray. Nice idea about some white flowers and something white too. Hmmm, got me thinking! thanks!