If your shed is in the sunniest spot, move it, preferably into the shadiest. It’s a big job but it’ll be the most transformative thing you can do.
AbjectivePerspective
I’ve got Fatsia Japonica, heuchera, hosta’s and ferns growing like mad at the bottom of my garden in full shade. I’m sure experts on here will give you a few more choices too.
dontflakeoutonme
One side of my garden gets no sun at all. I have anemones, tiarella, astilbes, a Tricyrtis formosana, hostas, brunera, a clematis for shade, a camellia and a climbing hydrangea all very happy there.
aim_dhd_
My initial thought was you have to put some chuffin plants there first for anything to grow. Second thought was, what’s blocking the sun? I can see the sky above both of the walls that I can see. Nature doesn’t grow on only light from the south and anything that hasn’t grown previously is likely down to poor care, water/fertilizer/soil quality issues.
Hostas could be a lovely option as they come in so many varieties and seeing has your garden looks like the inside of a minecraft quarry you shouldn’t have too many issues with slugs!
banxy85
Nothing grows because it’s a car park 😳
Jiggerypokery123
No grass. No soil in sight. What do you expect?
Pleasant-Memory-6530
When you say “nothing grows in in” – what have you tried to grow? (serious question)
Nim008
Fern, camellia, Hebes, primula, japonica fatsia, hydrangea. Some roses are shade tolerant.
AbjectivePerspective
Not exactly helpful. OP obviously asking for advice on how to make it look better.
Personally, I’d buy a load of pots or build some raised beds. Get some of the suggested plants in and it’ll make a world of difference.
compostyourgrandma
I bet ferns and grasses would grow in it fine. You could add acers, camellia, hydrangeas, jasmine, honey suckle. Many things would grow in this environment
StrongEggplant8120
yeh its a bit of a pickle for a garden but there are many shade loving plants that you could do something with. my recomendation as well is to move the shed and then maybe build a wall at the bak, make sure your planters are secure as they add weight tot he fence and its not good in wind. as the windows look that way it would be good for a bit of colour as4 well. stickthe planters up high and get some nice trailing plants or better yet planters on the ground with some nice climbers up them. that would do for colour and you could have lots of plants there not limited by shade that way. some suitable plants for that fence at the bac could be honeysuckle, jasmine and roses. for perrenials you need plants that are woodland plants such as solomons seal, daffodils, cyclamen and if your lucky hardy geraniums. astrantias are supposed to be good as well the geraniums should flower for long periods which is good.
or the other end of things and forego the colour mostly but put a focus on architectural plants such as ferns, heucheras, lots of choices of ivy, Chinese Virginia creeper aka *Parthenocissus henryana which will herald winter with a lovely red. Hydrangea paniculata* ‘Great Star’ *is a good choice as the lovely white blooms will proide a good contrast and long season of interest including winter. rhododendrons as well. daphnes and sarcococca are nice as well and the latter has a lovely winter scent. for architectural purposes sometimes less is more so choice shrubs and plants can be a good optiona nd wont break the bank and makes maintenance easier.*
Own_Tangerine7449
Op I’m sorry for all these comments about it not having any grass. Everyone is different, there are perks with having a paved garden like not having to cut the lawn etc and being a lower maintenance, this would be a huge green flag for an elderly person or disabled person or someone that simply doesn’t have the time if you ever thought about selling the house.
I would say have pots with shade loving plants, hostas have grown well for me in shade, ive had good luck with hydrangea in full shade though they are thirsty plants so make sure to water them in hot spells esp if they’re in pots, but very worth it for the pops of colour. Potted acers do well in shade, ferns do well too. RHS has great guidance for shade: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/for-places/shade-planting-annuals-bulbs-perennials
The beauty of pots is that if you feel like something needs a little more sun, you can just move it to a sunnier spot at the front of the house for a little boost or rotate the pots around.
I think this is a lovely space that will only get more beautiful over time as you make it your own!
*Editing to say as well not to be too hard on yourself for buying this house not thinking about the amount of sunlight – while it is easier to grow in, I have a south facing garden and it’s too warm to sit out there in peak summer weather, we end up sitting in the shade anyway!
2greenfingers
If you use big nicely coloured pots then even if everything dies it will add a splash of colour.
Suspicious_Banana255
You don’t need a sunny garden to have lots of plants. Google shade loving plants. But you should dig some beds to put them in first. Once you’ve planted some, be sure to keep them well watered until they are established, then they should look after themselves. If you can’t plant into the ground buy the biggest pots you can afford, as it holds more water. Pots are much more work as you need to feed and water all the time. Some plants to consider are foxgloves, hardy geranium, fatsia japonica, hydrangea, rhododendron.
Edible-flowers
Surely you’ve got some weeds popping up all over your garden?
tattytatty
Normally I really don’t like paved gardens – but your one is very nicely done – just needs more colour and greenery I think (as you said). I am assuming (as you have a big play house / frame) that you have a youngish child, which, given the rain in parts of Ireland, presumably makes it more accessible and less muddy for them. I would probably get some big containers / pots and grow plants and climbers in them – that way you can move them around and see which area suits them best – and later plant them up permanently if you ( and the plants!) are happy. You might also look at evergreens and winter flowering plants / shrubs – which would break up the grey in the colder bleaker months as well. Depending on the age of any children ( or pets) – definitely consider if they are child / pet safe – some can be very toxic. You could also have a raised bed or planters for easy growing herbs and vegetables- and your little ones could join in !
You obviously have a small human so what are your plans there ? Do you want space for them or you? As there’s plenty of hardy stuff that can make a ferny, rainforesty, space, but won’t be suitable for small people to roam. Likewise there’s plenty to give them space but also stuff to look at.
ThrowawayCult-ure
Plenty of stuff will grow, there are plants that evolved in dark siberian forests floors for example 🙂
But how can anything grow without anywhere TO grow?
Tear up some of the tiles in places, dig down and look what the soil is like, that will be the final “determining factor”.
Elder will survive in pretty much any conditions bar extreme drought.
Mom_is_watching
My front garden is north facing and there are parts close to the house that never get any sun at all. I’ve got hydrangeas, ferns, Japanese anemones, Japanese maples, periwinkle as groundcover, cranesbill geraniums etc. And spring bulbs because those will grow everywhere.
DenM0ther
Plants don’t tend to grow super well in gravel or pavers 🤷🏻♀️
20 Comments
If your shed is in the sunniest spot, move it, preferably into the shadiest. It’s a big job but it’ll be the most transformative thing you can do.
I’ve got Fatsia Japonica, heuchera, hosta’s and ferns growing like mad at the bottom of my garden in full shade. I’m sure experts on here will give you a few more choices too.
One side of my garden gets no sun at all. I have anemones, tiarella, astilbes, a Tricyrtis formosana, hostas, brunera, a clematis for shade, a camellia and a climbing hydrangea all very happy there.
My initial thought was you have to put some chuffin plants there first for anything to grow. Second thought was, what’s blocking the sun? I can see the sky above both of the walls that I can see. Nature doesn’t grow on only light from the south and anything that hasn’t grown previously is likely down to poor care, water/fertilizer/soil quality issues.
Hostas could be a lovely option as they come in so many varieties and seeing has your garden looks like the inside of a minecraft quarry you shouldn’t have too many issues with slugs!
Nothing grows because it’s a car park 😳
No grass. No soil in sight. What do you expect?
When you say “nothing grows in in” – what have you tried to grow? (serious question)
Fern, camellia, Hebes, primula, japonica fatsia, hydrangea. Some roses are shade tolerant.
Not exactly helpful. OP obviously asking for advice on how to make it look better.
Personally, I’d buy a load of pots or build some raised beds. Get some of the suggested plants in and it’ll make a world of difference.
I bet ferns and grasses would grow in it fine. You could add acers, camellia, hydrangeas, jasmine, honey suckle. Many things would grow in this environment
yeh its a bit of a pickle for a garden but there are many shade loving plants that you could do something with. my recomendation as well is to move the shed and then maybe build a wall at the bak, make sure your planters are secure as they add weight tot he fence and its not good in wind. as the windows look that way it would be good for a bit of colour as4 well. stickthe planters up high and get some nice trailing plants or better yet planters on the ground with some nice climbers up them. that would do for colour and you could have lots of plants there not limited by shade that way. some suitable plants for that fence at the bac could be honeysuckle, jasmine and roses. for perrenials you need plants that are woodland plants such as solomons seal, daffodils, cyclamen and if your lucky hardy geraniums. astrantias are supposed to be good as well the geraniums should flower for long periods which is good.
or the other end of things and forego the colour mostly but put a focus on architectural plants such as ferns, heucheras, lots of choices of ivy, Chinese Virginia creeper aka *Parthenocissus henryana which will herald winter with a lovely red. Hydrangea paniculata* ‘Great Star’ *is a good choice as the lovely white blooms will proide a good contrast and long season of interest including winter. rhododendrons as well. daphnes and sarcococca are nice as well and the latter has a lovely winter scent. for architectural purposes sometimes less is more so choice shrubs and plants can be a good optiona nd wont break the bank and makes maintenance easier.*
Op I’m sorry for all these comments about it not having any grass. Everyone is different, there are perks with having a paved garden like not having to cut the lawn etc and being a lower maintenance, this would be a huge green flag for an elderly person or disabled person or someone that simply doesn’t have the time if you ever thought about selling the house.
I would say have pots with shade loving plants, hostas have grown well for me in shade, ive had good luck with hydrangea in full shade though they are thirsty plants so make sure to water them in hot spells esp if they’re in pots, but very worth it for the pops of colour. Potted acers do well in shade, ferns do well too. RHS has great guidance for shade:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/for-places/shade-planting-annuals-bulbs-perennials
The beauty of pots is that if you feel like something needs a little more sun, you can just move it to a sunnier spot at the front of the house for a little boost or rotate the pots around.
I think this is a lovely space that will only get more beautiful over time as you make it your own!
*Editing to say as well not to be too hard on yourself for buying this house not thinking about the amount of sunlight – while it is easier to grow in, I have a south facing garden and it’s too warm to sit out there in peak summer weather, we end up sitting in the shade anyway!
If you use big nicely coloured pots then even if everything dies it will add a splash of colour.
You don’t need a sunny garden to have lots of plants. Google shade loving plants. But you should dig some beds to put them in first. Once you’ve planted some, be sure to keep them well watered until they are established, then they should look after themselves. If you can’t plant into the ground buy the biggest pots you can afford, as it holds more water. Pots are much more work as you need to feed and water all the time. Some plants to consider are foxgloves, hardy geranium, fatsia japonica, hydrangea, rhododendron.
Surely you’ve got some weeds popping up all over your garden?
Normally I really don’t like paved gardens – but your one is very nicely done – just needs more colour and greenery I think (as you said). I am assuming (as you have a big play house / frame) that you have a youngish child, which, given the rain in parts of Ireland, presumably makes it more accessible and less muddy for them. I would probably get some big containers / pots and grow plants and climbers in them – that way you can move them around and see which area suits them best – and later plant them up permanently if you ( and the plants!) are happy. You might also look at evergreens and winter flowering plants / shrubs – which would break up the grey in the colder bleaker months as well. Depending on the age of any children ( or pets) – definitely consider if they are child / pet safe – some can be very toxic. You could also have a raised bed or planters for easy growing herbs and vegetables- and your little ones could join in !
Link below to some shade tolerant veg and herbs ideas
https://www.joesgarden.co.uk/post/35-shade-loving-herbs-and-vegetables-you-can-grow-at-home-with-joesgarden#:~:text=Growing%20in%20partial%20shade%20can,in%20containers%20in%20light%20shade.
Better question at you:
What do you want to do with it?
You obviously have a small human so what are your plans there ? Do you want space for them or you? As there’s plenty of hardy stuff that can make a ferny, rainforesty, space, but won’t be suitable for small people to roam. Likewise there’s plenty to give them space but also stuff to look at.
Plenty of stuff will grow, there are plants that evolved in dark siberian forests floors for example 🙂
But how can anything grow without anywhere TO grow?
Tear up some of the tiles in places, dig down and look what the soil is like, that will be the final “determining factor”.
Elder will survive in pretty much any conditions bar extreme drought.
My front garden is north facing and there are parts close to the house that never get any sun at all. I’ve got hydrangeas, ferns, Japanese anemones, Japanese maples, periwinkle as groundcover, cranesbill geraniums etc. And spring bulbs because those will grow everywhere.
Plants don’t tend to grow super well in gravel or pavers 🤷🏻♀️