A grotty slope problem

There are so many problems in my garden right now, it is difficult to know where to start!

Anyway... my garden is quite large and very hilly, so not much fun getting the wheelbarrow from A to B. I'm trying to get one of my horrid, weedy, brambly banks sorted and wondered if anyone could come up with some plant suggestions. The area is quite shaded as squashed between 2 large trees. I haven't a clue about the soil type. I don't want anything growing too tall as there's a small seating area directly above where one can enjoy lovely views of even more weeds! Some colour would be nice.

Here are some photos of the area:





Many thanks

Kaz

 

It looks as if it might be quite dry as well with those big trees, but there are many ferns which would be ok, hostas will give many shades of green and might do, or some prostrate conifers. For colour you could try the many varieties of perennial geraniums, euonymus alata [lovely red in autumn], and of course aquilegias. And bulbs to naturalise.
This nursery is near me so I can recommend it:
http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Plants_for_Dry_Shade.html
Have a browse for more ideas- hope this helps

 

Thank you Liz... the timing of your link was great because I was just about to pull up loads of the first plant shown, thinking it must be a weed because it's thriving!

Most of this afternoon has been spent digging that area... hopefully I'll have made enough progress by next week to do some planting. There are a few from the link I like. Thank you again.

Kaz

 

I have these two growing in various spots around the garden and they seem to thrive in sun or shade.
The first is Impatiens balfourii, which grows to a metre or so and gets quite bushy........



The second is Nicotiana langsdorfii. About a metre high and quite slender..........

 

Thank you for the suggestions and photos... my gardening motivation has taken a massive dip these past couple of months... maybe the endless rain is to blame. I managed to get several wheelbarrow loads of weeds pulled today, but found it hard to stay upright as the slope is quite muddy at the moment! It does help to try and visualise the plant possibilities. Oh... I forgot to mention that I have hungry wild rabbits, so need to find plants they hate.

In my second photo you can just make out a small ugly fence above the slope. Roses had been planted there, but failed to thrive. Is there a climber that likes shade?

 

I have a rambler rose, Paul's Himalayan Musk, growing almost too well in quite dense shade- it gets a little dappled sun early in the morning. It is lovely when it flowers and smells good too, but only flowers once. However there are quite a few roses that will cope with shade, there is a little ground cover rose called Bonica that is so vigorous that it might cope, and although it doesn't smell it flowers proliferously all summer and is very pretty. Although it is called ground cover mine is about 6' high but only because i prune it severely.
There are also many variegated Ivies which will be ok, Clematis Montanas, and some honeysuckles, I have Halliana flowering in shade.
I found this in another forum:

"No roses love shade but the most shade tolerant roses are Rambling Rector, Mme. Alfred Carrière, Roseraie de l'Hay, Maidens Blush, Fru Dagmar Hastrup (Hartopp), Souv du Docteur Jamain which will flower even with no direct sunlight.
3 or 4 hours direct sunlight is really needed for _lots_ of blooms, but these varieties will give some blooms.
__________________
Pete Henshall
IT Manager
Peter Beales Roses Ltd."

 

Thank you again Liz... I really like Souv du Docteur Jamain. I'm trying to stay away from anything that goes totally mental (like honeysuckle , ramblers and ivy) because I have my hands full just keeping growth under control in other areas of the garden and don't want to add to the problem.

Late morning I chucked my garden clothes on, gathered my tools and headed for the slope... within 10 minutes the heavens opened and a thunderstorm arrived! It's still drizzling but thought I'd have another go... but impossible because I keep sliding down the bank!

 

We have had a whole morning and afternoon with no rain -lovely sunshine. trying to paint my swing seat before it rots completely.
My garden is all on a slope so I know what you mean. The Paul's Himalayan musk has grown much bigger than expected so as you say another thing to keep cutting back.

 

Please send the sunshine this way!

Ok... I've managed to do a bit more clearing and the ground is full of a plant which is obviously spreading quite merrily. Thing is, I haven't a clue what it is. Could someone tell me whether its a 'keeper' please (I hope it's something decent so I can save a few quid).

Close-up:


Current coverage (amongst the mess):


This is where I'm going to demonstrate my poor plant knowledge... I keep pulling up fern like thingies on a single stem. Is it a weed? I ask because ferns were mentioned earlier and wondered if I should be moving them rather than chucking on the compost heap.


It is nothing like my other ferns about 10' away... is this the type to consider on the slope?:


Many thanks for the help
Kaz

 

Just been trying to identify the fern using google and it looks like bracken (weed). Would that be correct? But still having trouble identifying the other plant.

 

Sorry... me again. I think I've managed to identify the other plant: Pachysandra, which is probably ideal for that shady bank?

 

Hmmm... hugely embarrassed, my dad just told me its as good as a weed and to get rid of it!