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cloud9

By Cloud9

Dorset, United Kingdom Gb

I have a border at the end of the garden which I think is East facing. There is a large laurel which has been pruned back but is still as large as a tree. There is very little light that gets through to the border. I want to underplant it. And am hoping for some spring bulbs and perhaps some ferns if they will grow. The border is quite dry and the soil is loam. Any ideas for planting. It must be low maintenance as I work away for sometimes weeks at a time.



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I hope it isn't quite as dark as your photo! Presumably it gets a little sun in the morning if it faces East? Polysticum ferns will tolerate dry ground, (try setiferum, which did OK for me under a north facing fence) though I found it didn't get as tall as it might do otherwise. You could try mixing some gel crystals with the soil to help with water retention. Don't leave any on the surface though as they get slimy when it rains.

Euphorbia robbiae will survive and spread there - the red leaved varieties are less invasive than the green ones.

Epimedium perralchicum has evergreen shiny leaves and will grow into a large clump. It tolerates dry shade and has dainty yellow flowers in spring. But the best thing is the spring leaves, which are tinted with bronze and yellow shades and are really beautiful.

All these should survive without much care and attention. Snowdrops would probably survive though they only grow where they think they will. Buy those in leaf though, as they take a lot better than the dry bulbs. and daffodils should be OK too but tulips wouldn't do well in the shade.

18 Aug, 2014

 

I would get rid of the Laurel. All plants need light.

18 Aug, 2014

 

Hi, welcome to GoY, I think I would be inclined to agree with Diane, common laurel, { prunus laurocerasus } as far as I am concerned, have no place in a home garden, and should be left to grow in parks and the gardens of stately homes, you would also have a lot more options, as to what you could plant in that position, Derek.

18 Aug, 2014

 

Looks like there's a hedge beyond the laurel as well - both together will just be sucking all the life and light out of that border. as per Diane and Derek, get rid of the laurel, prune the hedge and dig in plenty of well-rotted manure/organic material and you should find that you have far more planting choices. Light coloured finish to your sheds would also brighten up that corner.

19 Aug, 2014

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