3 years in.. looking for recommendations

Its quite difficult to make out the grass under the bench it may be liriope , they quite a lot of plants that could be used like pachysandra - Ajuga - Alchemilla - geranium macrorrhizum - heuchera / tiarella - Hakonechloa - ferns like polypodium - carex lots to pick from - brunnera - persicaria affins

 

Yes - it could be several things, possibly the Hakonechloa @Perki has mentioned, but it's hard to tell from the pic.
It would just depend how much light is getting in - if you intend using it the same way, and what the soil is like. Ajuga is easy in all sorts of locations, but if you do use it under a seat, just remember that the flowers are very appealing to bees!
A grassier type of plant with early flowers might be better, so the Liriope would be ideal, or a grass.
If it isn't going under a seat, than all the ones Perki mentions will work, and are very adaptable with conditions. I grow Pachysandra around white Hydrangeas, and the flowers are small, but they're out at around this time of year, for a while. They wouldn't be so problematic if it's for under a seat. I have white crocus growing in there as well, and the Pachysandra helps support them.

 

Just to add to the excellent posts above, the plant under the bench could also be ophiopogon planiscapus - quite resilient and good for dry shade. It might be liriope, as previously mentioned - in any case, probably something evergreen. I’m mostly thinking ophiopogon or liriope because of the circled part, which reminds me of the stem that’s left after flowers/ berries.

 

Hard to tell without a close-up, but it could be the green form of Ophiopogon, like this Ophiopogon planiscapus – Knoll Gardens – Ornamental Grasses and Flowering Perennials
The black version is the more popular one, I think.

 

Thanks for the recommendations on the under planting. I will definitely look into those. All look good.

 

I said I'd get back with info on my soil. Well I've tested the pH level and it is consistently coming out at pH5.3 which by my research is acidic. It is also clay-y, more towards the back of the garden and wetter there too.

 

That's very acidic what have you been testing it with?

 

I used a soil tester S-1 device like this.....https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B53KPXKT?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

pH 5.3 isn't implausible for an acid soil (very acid would be below 5 or so Soil: understanding pH and testing soil / RHS Gardening). It's into the range that ericaceous plants like, so perhaps you could look at those.

 

My views on that type of soil tester would get me banned for a month at least.
I would recommend the kits where you take a sample of soil shake with water allow to settle then add the indicator solution and note the colour; can be problem if you have a lot of dissolved organic matter as that turns the water brown, but over most of Enland they will work fine.
In the meantime have a walk round the neighbourhood and see if there are camellias, heathers, rhododendrons, magnolias growing. You should be able to grow what your neighbours grow.
Ask at the local garden centre or the loke gardening club.

 

I agree with Nigel use the soil sample with ideally rainwater they cost about £2 , I'd be interest to know if you do a water sample test kit and whether its the same as the soil meter .

 

I agree with @NigelJ - look and see what's growing around you. The fact that you have an Acer that's happy, suggests neutral to acidic anyway.
I still wouldn't underestimate the amount of time spent improving the soil, especially in the area you say at the back that doesn't drain readily. Regardless of what you end up planting, getting that in good condition will make it so much easier for plants to establish well and thrive, especially if you're planting through summer, and if you don't have adequate, regular rainfall, and therefore need to water manually. There are loads of plants which will be happy in shade or semi shade, as well as sun, in decent clay soil

 

Hi! The whole local are here is full of Rhododendrons, in remarkable abundance. I have a camellia and it's growing very well too. I might get another test to confirm. I'll see how it goes.