Ideas for narrow strip garden, deep shade under tree?

18 years ago

In front of our house there is deep shade under a shallow-rooted tree. Last year on the advice of a neighbor (who has a beautiful garden), I pulled out all the leggy, sparse pachysandra, tried my best to dig up and amend the soil in the area, and then planted different kinds of hostas. I was happy to see most of the hostas survived, but the area looks pretty sad still. My neighbor suggested I use impatiens to fill out the area and add color. Another friend suggested I put in pachysandra (not knowing I had ripped it out last year). The nearby tree has pretty much filled the soil with roots and is extremely competitive.

Any ideas on how to fill out the area and make it look nicer? I'm wondering about ferns, more hostas, some kind of ground cover?

Thanks

-Lily

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Comments (6)

waplummer
18 years ago
Ferns, epimediums, European ginger are several choices. Or even some low growing shrubs. suchas a dwarf Pieris.
cirrus_cloud
Original Author
18 years ago
Basic question, but how closely can I space things? Should I just fill in new plants so the area looks fuller, and not worry about the recommended plant spacings? Part of the reason I spaced the hostas so far apart was because of the planting instructions, but maybe those instructions aren't so relevant in a spot like this?
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paul3636
18 years ago
Try dwarf solomns seal or Japanese ferns or ajuga.
I have also had good luck with sweet woodruff(not sure of name or spelling)as a ground cover.
sprout_wi
18 years ago
I always like Ajuga reptans "Burgundy Glow" with the hostas. I would just stick them in around the hostas and they will fill in.
arcy_gw
18 years ago
How much work do you want to do? If you water, your hosta will be touching each other in a few years.(three growing seasons at the most at my house) Anything large like ferns, ginger, will soon be in the way and you will want to remove them. Right now my ajuga is in bloom so I would vote for that. I have three inch flower spikes this year. Beautiful in my hosta garden. If you plant a few against the wall very soon they will move forward and fill in all around your hosta.
Mine took two seasons to fill in a space your size. I had a few plants given to me by a neighbor. If it were me I would stick with a ground cover and feature your hosta. Creeping jenny, vinca are also nice and would fill in, giving you a living mulch.
d_giffin
18 years ago
I have a similar area, and just added some interest by adding some neat shade-lovers. Try corydalis, beautiful ferny leaves with yellow flowers. Also ghost fern is both interesting and has a neat phosphorescent color. Another idea toward the back of your bed is toad lily. It is tall and it has unusual, spotted lily-like blooms. It would add some height to your garden. I have a variegated form with white and green leaves that add interest. Later on, maybe a few of the miniature bleeding hearts to add some color?