Ideas for shady front garden....

Hi everyone,

With the back garden under control now I'm turning my attention to the front garden. When we moved in it was already planted and actually I quite liked it. After six years it's now looking a little tired and needs some attention (see pics). I've also included a plot showing the original planting scheme, supplied by the builder.

It's north facing, clay, slightly acidic sub soil and I'm based in Hampshire, UK.

As you can see the garden to the right side of the house (as you look at it) has faired better than the left. I think some of the azaleas died in the very cold winter of a few years ago. The Ilex Crenata looks like its dead or dying and a lot of the other plants have died on the left hand side. I'd like to provide a refreshed design but keep things that are doing OK in place. The Begenia's are getting a bit out of hand but I'm guessing I can thin those out? I quite like the Muscari but I think that might need rejuvenating too.

I mistakenly planted some sun loving grass at the side of the path leading up t the door, which has obviously died due to it being the wrong plant for the location.

Can anyone recommend some planting ideas and/or maintenance suggestions?
I'd quite like the majority of the planting to be evergreen in some form so that theres structure there all year. I also love the lush look and really love grasses like Hakonachloa, however I know these are deciduous. I guess the Muscari has a similar form. I'm thinking about reaplacing the Ilex Crenata with Yew Balls, which I have also planted in the back garden.

Any help and recommendations are all very appreciated.

Many thanks,

Ed

 

I would start by removing all plants that have failed or are not doing well. Both borders look quite tightly packed so check the natural height and spread of your remaining plants and reposition them accordingly.

Bergenias can be easily thinned by division and replanting. Although Hakonechloas are deciduous, they still look good over winter in their dried form. They just need to be cut to ground level in February and they will soon regrow. An alternative grass is Sesleria autumnalis which is evergreen, neat, dome shaped and will tolerate shade and clay soil if it doesn’t get waterlogged.

Evergreen shrubs that you could consider include Euonymus, available in green and variegated forms, and Mahonia, try “Winter Sun” or “Charity” for winter flowering. Camelias should also do well in that location. You could also try a small Phormium like “Cream Delight” which will grow happily in shade, just more slowly. You may need to improve drainage for all the plants mentioned above by incorporating some organic matter.

Another thought, have you considered removing those small lawn areas to expand your planting?