Any gardeners out there?

[Paul]

I've got a raised area next to a wall at the back of my garden that hardly gets any sun. I have no idea what to do with it but I'm thinking about planting some shrubs that don't mind poor light. Does anyone have any ideas or know what shrubs / plants do well in low light?

[charliecharlie]

I've lots of ideas!!! (my Mum is a super keen gardener and I sort of picked it up from her)

You can do colour and shade, but I think it's best to mix textures and levels of green... this way you can create interest all year round. This type of garden is also low maintenance, which is a plus if you are a new comer to gardening and don't want to spend too much time looking after it..

(!)here are a few suggestions... let me know what you think(?)

xcc

Hydrangea Petiolaris is pretty and stll looks good in the winter as the stem are reddish and the flower heads dry and stay on, it climbs up a wall and is self clinging

http://www.floralimages.co.uk/images/hydrangea_petiolaris_27c.jpg

hostas do well in shade but slugs love them!!!

http://www.paulparent.com/perennials/hosta.jpg

hedera helix goldheart (common name ivy! goldheart)will grow anywher, it can be a bit of a thug though and take over

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/913/759687.JPG

ferns love shade and there are loads of lovely varieties

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2195852789_34897fcebb.jpg?v=0

here's a good web site for ferns and other shade info

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Sales-table.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/&usg=__C_CMayxxNrh4GySySiRpqCPGNC4=&h=374&w=250&sz=23&hl=en&start=5&um=1&tbnid=1OP_jCcDGWcUCM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshade%2Bloving%2Bplant%2Bcolour%26hl%3Den%26cr%3DcountryUK%257CcountryGB%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

beth chatto is the business when it come to knowledge on shady gardens

http://img.tesco.com/pi/Books/L/33/9781844036233.jpg

[ThinLizzy]

On a gardening note -- I have a Jewel orchid at home -- it has sprouted an off-shoot out the side and looks in danger of toppling over (plus, it looks gangly). Is it possible to remove this off-shoot from the main stem and re-plant without killing it? TL

[LegalEagle-ish]

I've put gooseberry bushes and raspberries in my shady bits. I'll let you know if they produce any fruit this summer.

[charliecharlie]

orchids are tricky TL, is it in flower? if so, do not try to propagate from it.

if it is not flowering, has the off-shoot got a sort of bulb-y thing on it? I think this is called a daughter plant and I think you can make a new plant from it.

I have had orchids but pass them on to friends after they have finished flowering, as I don't have the patience or the space to wait till they flower again, my mates seem to have great joy with them, and they flower again and again.

I think they need special plant food... it's all a bit beyond me...(!)

just found this! good luck

http://www.orchids.co.in/plant-facts/propagation-orchid.shtm

worth the effort as they are such beautiful things...

http://www.stemsaflowershop.com/images/orchid-300.jpg

[ThinLizzy]

... I have two orchids on my shelf at the mo -- one is just (today) flowering again, after bulbs started to appear over the last few weeks -- the fist flower is in full bloom (just like the pic above) and is beautiful. Am glad I persevered -- it was just a couple of twigs and a big green leaf for a year :) The other orchid (the jewel orchid) is so delicately beautiful when it flowers -- but it has gone gangly -- and is not in flower or even budding. I am so tempted to gently remove it from the main stem (where it is obviously getting it's nutrition) and replant in a new pot -- I just wonder if it would root?

[charliecharlie]

I guess you could just try it and see... nothing to lose

[ThinLizzy]

...I've bitten the bullet and repotted, I'll keep you posted (oooh, it's exciting eh?!) TL

[Sue]

Forget the hostas unless you don't mind putting down loads of slug pellets :)

[espelli]

Vaseline applied around the top edge of a pot will keep snails and slugs off - they can't get a grip. A tip passed on by my mother who loves hostas and hates slug pellets!

[charliecharlie]

good tip... I am an 'all organic' gardener, so I guess I could use a wee bit of petrolium jelly for the sake of the hostas:)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

There is a Beth Chatto retrospective at the Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Rd until 19 April if anyone is interested.

gardenmuseum.org.uk

[charliecharlie]

thanks PGC... will try to pop in, lovely little garden too

xxcc

[PeckhamRose]

charlie what a great help you are!

I shall take up your ideas!

[AllforNun]

Winter-flowering Jasmine - Jasminum nudiflorum

Love it and it will love you.

[bigbadwolf]

http://http//newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42128000/jpg/_42128524_cannabis_pa416.jpg

[wilson]

KAREN ISAAC, Local garden Design is BRILLIANT 0777 555 7925

[Paul]

Thanks Charlie. Think I'll try the hydrangea and some Euonymus I found on the BBC gardening website. It's really useful as you can search for plants based on light, soil type, colour etc:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/index.shtml

[Sue]

espelli Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Vaseline applied around the top edge of a pot will

> keep snails and slugs off - they can't get a grip.

> A tip passed on by my mother who loves hostas and

> hates slug pellets!

xxxxxx

Well yeh, in a pot it's easier to keep em off. sharp grit also works.

I love (some) hostas, especially the big blue leaved ones, so I keep trying .....

[Sue]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> There is a Beth Chatto retrospective at the Garden

> Museum, Lambeth Palace Rd until 19 April if anyone

> is interested.

>

> gardenmuseum.org.uk

xxxx

You going PGC? I'd like to go to this, I love her garden.

Was supposed to be going to a conference thing at this museum, it was the (first) day of the snow, can you believe they didn't cancel it???????????? Tried to walk to the Oval to get a tube, since trains and buses were all off, gave up by the time I got to Goose Green :))

[charliecharlie]

good mix Paul, think that would work well...

Paul Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks Charlie. Think I'll try the hydrangea and

> some Euonymus I found on the BBC gardening

> website. It's really useful as you can search for

> plants based on light, soil type, colour etc:

>

> http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder

> /index.shtml

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Sue

Would like to go. Haven't been since the museum first opened - I'm sure they didn't charge then!