Gardeners, do not despair over those seemingly unconquerable spots in your garden – be they bone-dry, waterlogged, or enveloped in shade. Gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh assures us that there is hope yet.
He shares his wisdom in BBC Gardeners’ World magazine: “My own garden is not short of tricky spots.
“There is a dry, shady bed beneath an ancient yew tree; a sun-scorched border along the south-facing aspect of the house; a winding path beneath trees where the branches need to be thinned if I want anything other than ferns to grow under them.”
However, Titchmarsh has sage advice for green-thumbed enthusiasts facing these challenges. According to him, it all boils down to selecting plants tailored to thrive in specific environments: “In general, bright-flowered plants need sunlight to encourage pollinating insects. Don’t try growing brilliant summer bedding plants in deep shade.”
He notes that certain plants – such as bluebells, snowdrops and wood anemones – have adapted to flourish in the dappled shade of woods, blooming before trees unfurl their full foliage to soak up as much sunlight as possible.
The secret to a contented garden is choosing plant species that are in their element with the conditions at hand.
For those dark corners of your own garden, Alan suggests introducing a Rose of Sharon or foxgloves for some vibrant hues.
Particularly hearty, foxgloves will joyfully propagate themselves, gracing your garden with bursts of lively colours amidst the spring and summer months.
A shaded bed that also tends to be rather dry presents a double challenge. In that case, you might want to consider an ornamental ivy, such as Glacier or White Wonder, which will brighten up your garden in winter.
Or there’s Jack Frost, or Brunnera. Alan says it will spread happily in even the poorest of soils, bringing out a sprinkling of blue flowers.
Damp, clay soils can be hard work when it comes to digging, but the advantage of naturally moist soil is that once they’re established, plants will be able to tap into that underground reservoir of moisture.
“Adjusting clay soil with organic matter and sharp sand or grit will help improve drainage and widen the range of plants that will establish happily here,” Alan says.
If the soil in your garden tends to be dry, that presents its own challenges.
Alan explains areas with dry soil are easy to cultivate after heavy rain because it drains so well, “but they cannot hold onto moisture or nutrients.”
To fix that, you’ll need to add plenty of well-rotted garden compost or manure. At this time of year, nature is providing you with plenty of wet leaves – don’t let them go to waste, bag them up and add them to your compost.
For every challenge, nature will have provided a solution: “Above all, don’t lose heart,” Alan says. “Remember the old saying: Right plant, right place”.
