Area under a conifer

Well, I`m sure that would work - and there are loads of plants you could grow in there. but I wonder if you might consider removing the conifer ? If you cut it off to about 4 -5 ft, and maybe stick a bird bath saucer on top, you might grow more for letting the light in ...OR, grind out the stump and dig a proper bed ?

 

I would spray those suckers asap. And keep an eye out for them when they re occur.
Your idea is sensible I think.....viz., to create a raised bed. However a weed membrane at the base?
Plants for a shady spot? Brunneras..... Hadspen Cream is delightful. Currently its blue forget me not flowers here are very attractive. Astrantias too. Ferns like the japanese painted ferns are wonderful in a shady spot. Geranium Margaret Wilson has grey foliage and light purple flowers. Impatiens are ideal for shade but check out the Sunpatiens variety......disease free and bigger and more vigorous. The white ones will light up the shade.
Have you considered Hackonechloa? A beautiful mounding then cascading grass....Old Gold is a classy yellow all summer. I use these grasses in containers and in the ground......a couple of pots of them will add height and variety there. The yellow heucheras too will enjoy the shade. Heucheralla Golden Zebra is a beauty. An evergreen carex like Testacea which has a unique olive/ foxy red foliage.
Liriopes will enjoy it there.....evergreen grass like with purple spikes in autumn.
Astilbes if you can get some manure or other moisture holding material in there....... check out Shogun. Brown purple beautiful foliage that will look good with the yellow heucheras or grasses. Or with white anemone Wild Swan. This flowers from mid May to autumn. Acteas too.....beautiful bronze large foliage and scented white pink flowers in late summer.
Hostas of course......Fire and Ice will love the shade as will the pure yellows .
I would not bother with a weed membrane unless it is used at soil level and then disguised with bark chips etc.
So I would get as much organic matter in there as possible.

 

First, get the landlord by the scruff of the neck.....oops what am I saying .....Clematis montana likes its feet in the shade - spring flowering, Fuchsias (hardy ones) like shade - late summer, Grasses (in variety) Vinca minor purpureis, for trailing, and in between some lovely twee bedding plants to jazz it all up. I have imported builders bags of good topsoil from the builders merchants for my raised beds.

PS....just read verdun`s post - you can tell who the proper plantsman is can`t you

 

Good luck then show us a photo when it`s all done please.
Oh yes - and why not change the bitching mood - puts me right off

 

Them green thumbs can get slippery - it couldn`t possibly be the drinking problem that you don`t have

 

I think that looks like a champion idea.....just one thought -- have you actually spoken with your landlord? There is just a chance that he would quite like to get rid of that tree - or halve it, especially if you offer to pay all or part of the job ?????

 

Hope you have a nice big heap of decent soil to put in there