Dry shade at the far end of a garden. A stepping stone path choked with weedy grass and dead leaves led the way to the compost heap and a seating area. Leaves falling from the Plane trees that shade the plot required a weekly blow and untidy shrubs were planted hard against the fence. The drip irrigation system seemed like a waste of water.
Sorting it out was pretty minimal. Accepting the conditions of drought and shade meant digging up the grass, pulling the planting forward and adding more drought tolerant planting to what was already there. A wilder look meant that fallen leaves and twigs from the Plane trees were now an asset, building up a woodland carpet that feeds the soil and retains moisture. Even the odd weed can be tolerated in this wilder space, although ground cover keeps most weeds down. Hellebores, Snowdrops and Erythroniums give way to Foxgloves, Martagon lilies and Japanese Anemones in this permanently unwatered garden.
Sorting it out was pretty minimal. Accepting the conditions of drought and shade meant digging up the grass, pulling the planting forward and adding more drought tolerant planting to what was already there. A wilder look meant that fallen leaves and twigs from the Plane trees were now an asset, building up a woodland carpet that feeds the soil and retains moisture. Even the odd weed can be tolerated in this wilder space, although ground cover keeps most weeds down. Hellebores, Snowdrops and Erythroniums give way to Foxgloves, Martagon lilies and Japanese Anemones in this permanently unwatered garden.
