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Post by merlin on Jun 8, 2011 7:24:57 GMT
  Both these beds are partly in shade and dry due to trees/shrubs. In spring it looks ok with bulbs but anything I plant gets leggy looking for light. I need something to cover the old tulips and give summer colour. Geranium would Geraniums do both and would Tirellias do also? Any other ideas would be appreciated. |
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Post by Geranium on Jun 8, 2011 8:21:17 GMT
Well - you knew what I'd say, didn't you, Merlin!  Yes, indeed there are geraniums which would thrive there. Tiarellas & Heucherellas should also do well. Epimediums,Waldsteinia ternata, Saxifraga stolonifera and Tolmiea would all be happy, too. Don't forget Iris foetidissima for its tall leaves - the flowers may not be very exciting, but the winter seedpods give a lot of colour. Hope that helps a bit. |
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Post by Cherry on Jun 8, 2011 8:38:22 GMT
I would add humus and go for the ferny, hostary look with added astrantias and a couple of hellebores by the fence. The geraniums could look good in the triangle bed which gets a little more sun by the look of it.
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Post by merlin on Jun 8, 2011 16:40:19 GMT
Ferns and Hostas would look just fine Cherry but because of the bulbs and hawthorh roots from behind the fence, I would have to use the 'humus' as a mulch.
Now how did I know Geranium would suggest geraniums! but you've also suggested more!!
Thank you both, there's plenty fore me to research, I'll get googling later.
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Post by merlin on Jun 8, 2011 19:12:50 GMT
I've just spent a hour browsing and these are what take my fancy; Tirellias, a blue leaved Hosta, a couple of darker leaved Heuchers or Heucherella, and a fern.
Please Geranium would you recommend a few Geraniums, I only need 2 or 3 but I'll have to make do with what I can find locally.
Good thing my bank ballance is back in the black !
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Post by peony on Jun 8, 2011 19:28:00 GMT
Merlin, I grow the following successfully in dry shade - Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Arum Italicum, Hellebores, Aquilegia, Tricyrtis, Lunaria rediviva, Astrantia, Hostas, Euphorbia griffithii, and geraniums |
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Post by merlin on Jun 8, 2011 21:22:16 GMT
Thanks Peony, I'v added B. Jack frost to my list.
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Post by Geranium on Jun 8, 2011 21:36:12 GMT
Yep - Geranium macrorrhizum - there's a white one called 'White Ness'(or pink ones,) Geranium nodosum, or Geranium versicolor. I posted photos of some of them on the Hardy Geranium thread if you scroll back. |
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Post by seaburn on Jun 8, 2011 22:45:34 GMT
some of the more compact lamiums would be ok too. I have pachysandra terminalis, omphaloides and vinca minor in quite deep shade under a beech tree. in addition to most plants already mentioned.
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Post by merlin on Jun 9, 2011 5:53:20 GMT
some of the more compact lamiums would be ok too. I have pachysandra terminalis, omphaloides and [glow=red,2,300]vinca[/glow] minor in quite deep shade under a beech tree. in addition to most plants already mentioned. 'Vinca' !!!!!!! That's what was there before and it's taken me years to get rid of ;D |
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Post by merlin on Jun 9, 2011 5:59:41 GMT
Yep - Geranium macrorrhizum - there's a white one called 'White Ness'(or pink ones,) Geranium nodosum, or Geranium versicolor. I posted photos of some of them on the Hardy Geranium thread if you scroll back. Thanks 'G' blimey my list has filled the page !! but Geraniums will take priority. |
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Post by esther on Jun 9, 2011 7:29:42 GMT
Merlin - I have a couple of plants in my sinks that would look good at the edge of your bed - i will take pics later to show you as I don't know their names  |
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Post by sweetpea on Jun 9, 2011 15:58:25 GMT
and for a cheap alternative..........Nasturtiums.
Believe it or not one of the gardens I used to look after had a leylandii hedge on a low raised bed. Underneath as you might have guessed it was deep dry shade but we tried sowing nasturtium seeds and lo and behold they grew and added a splash of colour to an otherwise hopeless area.
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Post by merlin on Jun 9, 2011 20:42:17 GMT
That's a brilliant idea SP.
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Post by merlin on Jun 10, 2011 8:33:44 GMT
Today I'm off to buy some Nasturtiums as I need colour quick. It will give me time to B B or S the ones I want long term.
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Yes, indeed there are geraniums which would thrive there. Tiarellas & Heucherellas should also do well. Epimediums,Waldsteinia ternata, Saxifraga stolonifera and Tolmiea would all be happy, too. Don't forget Iris foetidissima for its tall leaves - the flowers may not be very exciting, but the winter seedpods give a lot of colour.
