Inspiration Required!

[SusieG]

Cleared (sort of!!) this bit of ground the last couple of days (hence the tip trips...!) and found this 'base' which appears pretty solid - it measures 4ft X 10ft

My hope is that DH will construct me a potting shed, thus freeing up space in GH. I also want to store all my pots, odd bags of compost etc etc in there.....

In front of where this 'base' is located is the old apple tree and a mess of undergrowth and bits of self seeded apple tree, nettles, etc etc - I'm quite happy to dig and clear this out: now, what can I put there when it's cleared?

It'll be under the tree, so shady and I'll also need a bit of a path to get in and out the potting shed? Any ideas please??

[happyhumph]

Edible or ornamental? Could go for a forest type thing - raspberries & currents do ok in a bit of shade & keeps with the fruit theme....

[muddled]

Comfrey patch?

Then you can 'chop and drop' to feed the tree and leaves that you don't make tea with.
Any nettles that come back can be added to the tea...I read on here (sorry, I forget who said it) that the nettles add nitrogen to the tea making it perfectly balanced.
Bees love comfrey....mine is smothered with them all summer....but you could also add some annual self seeders.

Also, I'd put early spring bulbs there...daffs and snowdrops and lily of the valley....to encourage you out there on grim February mornings

[ESBkevin]

This time of year things like peas and lettuce prefer it cooler but may reguire more watering with that tree drinking everything.
I like the comfry idea and would suggest putting your compost bin/leaf mould cage there. All them leaves can then be put to good use.
Have you got a worm farm yet?


P.S.
Some containers with the likes on Mint would be useful, that way they won't get out of hand but also don't use better ground up.

[Bigmallly]

Personally I wouldn't plant anything near the tree, the ground will be full of roots and the tree will sap any nutrients available. I would however put some brackets on the potting shed for hanging baskets & window boxes................

[CaraFlower]

I think it would make a nice pretty bee patch.

[SusieG]

Thanks for all your ideas..!!

I'm liking the idea of:


Hanging baskets & window boxes (herbs..?)

Mint in pots

Spring bulbs ~ lovely ~ think they'd do ok underneath the tree......?

Worm farm

Leaf mould cage

Comfrey patch (how much space needed for a usable amount??)


Lots of do-able ideas there!

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Although I think I have got the idea, n thinking in front of the fence! I personally would "Nack" the fence, clear that ground behind that, a lot of work I know, but then under plant with the likes of Daff's, Hosta's, astilbie's bleeding hearts, all the shade loving thingies, just to open it up a tad, and have flow! tell ya what, wish I had that ground n the time to play with it!

[Containergardener]

I'm with deano on shade planting, bulbs will be fine ..they like winter.
Anemone do well in my shade , also native cornflower, hellebores, ferns, woodland garden?

[SusieG]

........it's all very exciting! I think I could transform that patch.......
Thanks for info re suitable shade loving plants/bulbs ....... I'm going to enjoy doing this - and reaping the rewards.............

CaraFlower - a bee patch..? Do you mean for certain plants that attract bees, or keeping bees ........? Now that's another idea.............!!!

[Containergardener]

^^^as long as Toby doesn't try to catch and eat bees ..like olive lab

[SusieG]

Oooer, yes, CG good point ...... these Labs can be little tinkers ......!

Perhaps not - I don't fancy a large vets bill and a sorry-for-himself pooch.........!

[Containergardener]

Olive has scars from 2 weevils attaching to her lip as pup , also had bee sting in lip I've had to tweezer out. Bit more careful these days but like scoffing a fly or two .