Woodland/(Under Tree) planting suggestions..

[rootball]

Hi everyone.
I have two trees at the back of my garden Plum and Cherry. Under which i have full dry shade in summer. In winter the trees are dormant so get more light.
My questions are:
1. What plants do you suggest will grow best in the growing conditions?
and
2. What soil conditioning/work do i need to do to the area before planting to give the plants the best chance of growing?

Thanks,
Richard

[burnie]

I have a few flowers under a large Silver Birch, things with a bulb or a corm/tuber seem to do ok, from the bluebell to daffs to Solomon's Seal, also big ornamental poppies seem to do well in the dry conditions. I have done nothing to the soil, no feed or watering, just left to get on with it. Sadly large parts of my garden are infested with ground elder, I inherited, that likes growing anywhere, but I would not recommend getting any.

[Snoop Puss]

Spring-flowering bulbs? If you have been leaving the fallen leaves to compost in situ rather than collecting them to make leaf mould, I imagine the soil will be in nice condition and probably not need any amendment.

[rootball]

Thanks for your suggestions, will check them out.
Leaves are left where they fall so seems i have been doing the right thing
Any suggestions for Summer plants?
Glyphosate might be your only option for the Ground Elder. That said, the only time i use weedkiller is for Bindweed when it grows and starts choking plants i want to keep.

Thanks again for your replies and suggestions

[mrsbusy]

Hardy geraniums. I have a shady bed of them - the
flowers are over quite quickly but the leaves on some varieties stand all year and are very attractive- there are lots of varieties and specialist nurseries who can advise you
Cardboard works well over ground elder.

[Plot70]

Snowdrops and crocuses are good under trees.

[ameno]

I have a large plum tree, and have lots of primroses (they self-seed all over) and a large hellebore under it.

[bramble]

Cyclamen will also do well in the shade.

[Sweet savory]

I grow hardy geraniums in many problem areas. Once the flowers are over if you cut hard back they will respond within a few weeks and provide a mound of green and maybe even a few more flowers. They also work as ground cover to help keep down weeds.

[rootball]

Thanks again everyone for you suggestions.

I added a blue Hardy Geraniums about 5 year ago, said shade on the label, for 2 summers it grew about a foot with almost no flowers I moved it to sunny part of the garden 2 years ago, last summer it grew to about 2 and a half feet high and about 4 feet across covered in flowers all summer, same this year which im very happy about. i do like Hardy Geraniums i guess i need look for ones that like deep shade.

I have some Primroses that need a home, will plant them in outer parts and see how they go.

I like the idea of Cyclamen, Snowdrops, Crocuses, Bluebell and Daffodils growing in drifts under the trees, on my list for sure as is Hellebores. Solomon's Seal sounds interesting too

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply its very much appreciated, keep the suggestions coming.

[Martin H]

Geranium phaeum is the one for you. Happy to flower in deep shade, quite a few varieties to choose from.

[rootball]

thanks Martin H
For the Geranium phaeum suggestion, I had a look and found Geranium phaeum 'Album'it has white flowers which i think will look nice in the shaded area. All i need to do now is find somewhere that sells it

Thanks again