A Hole to Fill

Slowly and subtlety then Irmemac......we wont let on to hubby but it is already taking shape.
Incidentally, you can move these plants if you change your mind on their exact positions.

 

Hee hee, GC's secret! I'm grateful for your advice, because the little bit I've done so far looks great. I'm also glad to know I can move them if necessary. Incidentally I made a mistake and have an evergreen asplenium rather than a polystichum.

What's next, and will it be found out? Hopefully a beautiful astilbe, but will maybe wait a couple of weeks

 

Two pretty late spring perennials which should do well in the shady bit, if you can squeeze them in, are Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum x hybridum) and Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). There is a white-flowered form of the latter, 'Alba' too.

 

Thank you, Clare. Perennials are exactly what I am after. They would both add a splash of colour in that area. I made the mistake of googling bleeding heart..... ugh!

 

Remember though, you want slug resistant plants Irmemac.

 

Here the slugs and snails ignore them both, though the Solomon's Seal is currently under attack by some kind of caterpillar. Happens every year around this time.

 

I'm planning to put nematodes into that raised border, but have never used them before. As far as I know I will have to reapply every so often. My fern and grass have both survived their first night unscathed, so I'm hopeful that they are safe....

 

Have faith Irmemac . Surely my new avatar inspires you!
Nematodes for slugs should be effective now for the rest of the summer
Clare, the blighters on your Solomon Seal are sawfly......they do the same damage as gooseberry sawfly; rapid defoliation.
Neem oil in autumn is a good option........used again in spring to break up the life cycle. No goose sawfly now

 

Verdun, it does indeed. A mole? Great.... I could send you crates of fresh slugs!

 

Thanks @Verdun - yes when I googled they do look like sawfly larvae. I've got some neem oil here so will give that a go in due course.

 

Please don`t forget slug pellets kill hedgehogs too.

no, not a mole - Mickey Mouse with no ears

 

Don't worry Tetters, would never use slug pellets, regardless of the fact I haven't seen a hedgehog around my way for decades. Would love hedgehogs to come back!

 

no, not a mole - Mickey Mouse with no ears [/QUOTE]