I am moving into a flat which has a small back garden, but I noticed that
the garden doesn't get any sunshine until very late afternoon, and then it's
only a thin strip at the end which gets lit up.
Some of the plants are brown and dead, so could anyone recommend plants and
flowers that would be suitable, but which have nice bright colours?
I don't know anything about gardening, but we are moving here mainly to have
the chance of our own small garden, as we are fed up with being stuck in a
flat after being at work all week.
Thanks a lot.
Garry

"garry parker" wrote in message
...
I am moving into a flat which has a small back garden, but I noticed that
the garden doesn't get any sunshine until very late afternoon, and then
it's
only a thin strip at the end which gets lit up.
Some of the plants are brown and dead, so could anyone recommend plants
and
flowers that would be suitable, but which have nice bright colours?
I don't know anything about gardening, but we are moving here mainly to
have
the chance of our own small garden, as we are fed up with being stuck in a
flat after being at work all week.
Thanks a lot.
Garry



What I do is look at crocus.co.uk (its an online garden centre) which has a
lot of useful information on it. You can seach for plants that do well in
certain aspects (eg shade). I've not ordered from them because they seem to
take a while to deliver but its good for getting the names of a few plants
that will work and then nipping down to your local garden centre to buy
them.

Andrew

"garry parker" wrote in message
...
I am moving into a flat which has a small back garden, but I noticed
that
the garden doesn't get any sunshine until very late afternoon, and
then it's
only a thin strip at the end which gets lit up.
Some of the plants are brown and dead, so could anyone recommend
plants and
flowers that would be suitable, but which have nice bright colours?
I don't know anything about gardening, but we are moving here mainly
to have
the chance of our own small garden, as we are fed up with being
stuck in a
flat after being at work all week.
Thanks a lot.
Garry


White and yellow stand out better in shade than blue or
red............

Bulbs in spring - you can plant them later on this year for next
spring or buy some in pots and stick them in now :~)

Hostas in various leaf shades
(magical photos of millions of varieties at :
http://www.hostalibrary.org/index.html

Ferns

Fatsia japonica - huge architectural leaves - comes in a variegated
from too :~)
http://www.streetside.com/plants/flo...f/fatsia_j.htm


I see that Victoria has mentioned the excellent shade FAQ and the
following site has some god info too :
http://www.architecturalplants.com/p...nse_damp_shade

HTH Jenny

garry parker wrote in message ...
I am moving into a flat which has a small back garden, but I noticed
that
the garden doesn't get any sunshine until very late afternoon, and then
it's
only a thin strip at the end which gets lit up.
Some of the plants are brown and dead, so could anyone recommend plants
and
flowers that would be suitable, but which have nice bright colours?
I don't know anything about gardening, but we are moving here mainly to
have
the chance of our own small garden, as we are fed up with being stuck
in a
flat after being at work all week.
Thanks a lot.

Not sure what is at the end of the garden, but if it is a wall or fence
then painting it a pale colour would give extra light. I have just taken
a leaf out of the garden programme books and painted my old garage wall
a nice cream, and a fence, now on view as my ex has taken the caravan, a
pale blue. Actually I used a deep blue called Iris on a couple of sheds
now I've got rid of the Russian vine, and the fence Forget-me-not, and
the next day those same shades were used in a garden design programme.
Violas will usually do OK in shade. I have one called Freckles and it
has nice pale green leaves and pale lilac flowers with darker spots on
them. They are perennials or will, at least, self seed very easily. Some
of the pale clematis will also do well in shade.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk

Thanks to all for the advice, and to anyone else who may reply.
I'll be busy packing and moving for the next few days, so I'll follow up
your suggestions at the weekend. I don't think I'll be allowed to paint any
fences or walls though, as my landlords don't allow anything which makes any
of the properties look different from the others.

Thanks again.
Garry

The right-hand side (north-east facing) of my back garden is always in
shade. I have put in a very small pond, with a layer of earth then gravel
at the bottom. Around this I have ferns, bluebells, marsh marigold, grape
hyacinth ... daffodils are blooming too.
Fatsia japonica is growing well, and periwinkle; I also planted a small
cutting of lamium since I saw it growing well in shade ... it has romped
away, and is probably the kind of plant that everyone will warn you against.
However, although I will thin it out next week it has done a great job of
offering ground cover. Bergenia is doing well - I didn't think much of
bergenia before having this garden, but I appreciate it now. Geraniums,
hellebores, lily of the valley (lovely!) and solomon's seal.
I've also got a tayberry on the north-east facing brick wall ... it's early
days yet, but I had 4 berries last year.

in article , Sue C at
wrote on 7/4/03 11:54 pm:

The right-hand side (north-east facing) of my back garden is always in
shade. I have put in a very small pond, with a layer of earth then gravel
at the bottom. Around this I have ferns, bluebells, marsh marigold, grape
hyacinth ... daffodils are blooming too.
Fatsia japonica is growing well, and periwinkle; I also planted a small
cutting of lamium since I saw it growing well in shade ... it has romped
away, and is probably the kind of plant that everyone will warn you against.
However, although I will thin it out next week it has done a great job of
offering ground cover. Bergenia is doing well - I didn't think much of
bergenia before having this garden, but I appreciate it now. Geraniums,
hellebores, lily of the valley (lovely!) and solomon's seal.
I've also got a tayberry on the north-east facing brick wall ... it's early
days yet, but I had 4 berries last year.



If you're in the right location for it, Geranium palmatum does well in
shade, too.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk

"garry parker" wrote in message
...
I am moving into a flat which has a small back garden, but I noticed that
the garden doesn't get any sunshine until very late afternoon, and then
it's
only a thin strip at the end which gets lit up.
Some of the plants are brown and dead, so could anyone recommend plants
and
flowers that would be suitable, but which have nice bright colours?
I don't know anything about gardening, but we are moving here mainly to
have
the chance of our own small garden, as we are fed up with being stuck in a
flat after being at work all week.
Thanks a lot.
Garry



Well, planted some Lilly of theValley last year (gift from parents who were
keeping theirs in check) in a corner that almost never gets sun, under a
pyrocanthus.

I noticed this weekend that it's coming up _everywhere_ in the corner - it's
definitely happy and has taken off.

cheers
Richard

--
Richard Sampson

email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

Thanks for suggesting geranium palmatum, Sacha - it sounds a good idea.
I forgot to say that I also have a v young, v small hydrangea petiolaris ...
I've heard they take a couple of years to take off so I'm being patient.

RichardS wrote in message 3e929a4b$0$12318

Well, planted some Lilly of theValley last year (gift from parents who
were
keeping theirs in check) in a corner that almost never gets sun, under
a
pyrocanthus.

I noticed this weekend that it's coming up _everywhere_ in the corner -
it's
definitely happy and has taken off.

Tried several times to get lily of the valley to grow here, but they
have lasted a couple of years and then dies out, I know there are some
who may think I'm lucky.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk

For ready made planting plans try www.applegategardens.com, they have options for different sunlight conditions and colour schemes, so they have done the hard work for you.

linette