Question
HI

Hope you can offer some practical advise to a novice gardener.

We would like to transform our small narrow, uneven (slopes downward) damp, mossy (and ragwort filled!) clay soil back garden.  Despite the bleak description, we are very fortunate to have encouraged a great deal of bird wildlife into our garden which happily share peanuts, nijer seeds and black sunflower seeds with 4 squirrels that regularly visit our garden. The problem is that our wildlife visitors coupled with the poor quality soil and shady conditions, kill off any grass planted.  We have considered paving the area or maybe using ornamental stones or even a decked area.  Could you suggest the best materials and plants to use in this situation? The garden gets a small amount of sun in the morning and is in shade for the rest of the day

Thanks in advance for your help

Marion Patterson  

Answer
Hello Marion, why not plant some ground cover plants that like the shade?

You could create swathes of colour by planting in bands, using plants like hosta, geranium, convallaria (lily of the valley)and even some wild strawberries? Then try to allow any grass areas to grow up and see what they offer, sometimes there are some great wild plants in there!

Let me know,

Jonathan