Plant advice please

ok, so I have a nth facing, damp, clay, small back garden. I want to make it a nice space for us to use, what plants will suit this type of garden ? I also have a large metal shed that needs covering. and would like a small tree to try and add height to the garden. Is it now to late to lay turf ? im sure it will be.
I will have loads of questions to ask, sorry guys

David

 

Ligularias will enjoy the shady damp conditions, Telekia, thalictrums (they do like moist soil but not sitting it wet),hostas ,persicaria, trying to think what other things I've planted in my shady clay areas

 

Azalia, Japanes Anemone, Old Fashioned Geranium, Roses, Potentilla etc. will all do OK in heavy soil.
Welsh Poppy and Aquiligia will also do Ok but freely seed and you will have to like them once established. They are prolific.
I also have a Campanula that grows to 3' and stays in flower for months and self seeds easily. These new plants can be easily lifted and passed around. If I can identify the specific plant I will add it. It self seeded to me so I don't know its history

 

At risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm going to recommend Nasturtium, at least for year one of the garden revamp.

The reason is that for the cost of one packet of seeds (a couple of quid or less), and very little effort, you can quickly fill a large area with very pretty flowers and foliage. Its practically zero maintenance, has a very long flowering period, is very pretty, and it is not at all fussy about where you put it. I think the official advice is full sun to part shade in moist but not wet, poor quality soil. Very specific, and totally irrelevant in my experience. I've grown it very successfully in permanent shade in a hanging basket I kept forgetting to water, in full sun on dry ground, in damp shade, and on a range of soil types. In fact when I moved into my new gaff, the back garden was bust beyond anything I'd ever seen. On most of it there was nothing I'd call top soil, just red/light brown solid clay. Even most weeds wouldn't grow in it. The only thing that did well (or grew at all) was the Nasturtium.

It's annual as well, and with very distinctive leaves it is easy to spot any rogue seedlings the following year if you don't want it to come back.

 

I was thinking of jasmine ? ive read it flowers in winter for late colour in the garden

 

Astilbe is nice for a damp shady area. Lots of different colours.

 

Be careful with that. There is jasmine and there's winter jasmine (in fact there's lots of different jasmines).

Winter jasmine is the one that, as you've read, flowers in winter. It's slow to establish and in my opinion (just my opinion), its not the nicest plant, and not really ideal for the small garden you describe.

 

As a bonus you can cut Astilbe heads in full colour and they make good Dried Flowers to include in indoor displays.

 

For late in the season, Tricyrtis likes a damp shady spot. This is T.formosana "Harlequin"..........


Polygonatum (Solomons Seal) would be good for spring colour.............