Suggestions on what to plant here

Hi,
I have attached a few pics to help paint a picture.
Boring, new build housing estate garden, not particularly big.
I want to plant something down the back of the garden to the right of the shed, where I have a red line in the pic Note: The concrete wall is not directly behind the fence, there is an area in between that is actually part of my neighbours garden.

Down that end of the garden, the soil is moist and poor draining, it gets little or no sun throughout the day and is nearly always in the shade.

Width from edge of shed to path is 2.3metres. Would like to leave a small bit of space at side of shed to enable me get in the back to add some wood protection to the shed over time.

I have no idea what to plant or how to go about it, so all ears.
To help guide here are some considerations:
1) Something (s) that is easy to maintain and it is obvious what needs to be cut back etc.
2) Wont grow too big that it uproots the patio down that end
3) Colourful is good
4) Something that looks alive most of the year if not all year round.

 

I'd go for things like Acteas, which like consistently moister soil, and they give a good bit of height later in the year. I use various other perennials in that kind of site too - many/most hardy geraniums will be fine, lots of snowdrops, daffs/narcissus for this time of year. Convallaria [lily of the valley] will also be good, although some people find it a bit invasive. Hostas if you don't mind the slug attraction qualities! Thalictrum for height without too much volume, Polemonium [Jacob's Ladder] , Astilbes, Liatris and Foxgloves will all be fine too.
You can add shrubs which don't mind that too - Eleagnus, Viburnum, Philadelphus, Hydrangeas, for example. Eleagnus are evergreen, some Viburnums are too, but Philadelphus & Hydrangea aren't. You can mix up the different heights/sizes of those to suit the space, and they'll give you longer interest, while the perennials will come and go through the year.
I'd make the bed/border a decent enough size [front to back] if you want good colour and interest for a long period.

You'll find if you use shrubs that they'll soak up a fair bit of mosture, but I expect you'll be like us here and have enough rainfall to keep everything happy year round.
It's always a good idea to prep the ground well though, and keep adding organic matter to ensure the soil health.
A wee path along the back for your access, as well as shrub maintenance, is also a good idea.

 

Thank you fairygirl a very detailed and helpful post. Certainly given me food for thought.
I was originally jusy thinking of planting a couple of shrubs/plants that would be close to the fence and not come out too far (2 feet or so) from the fence. But, if I have understood you correctly you are suggesting planting quite a few things and making a large enough bed that will come out a few feet from the fence?

 

Yes - sorry, I think that can often be a better look if there's room to make a decent size of bed, but you can certainly just have one or two shrubs, and a few bulbs, or smaller perennials if that suits better. It depends on how much grass you want to leave as well.
You can always add to it later as well, if you fancy it.

I slightly misunderstood about your shed access, and I realise you'd want a strip along the side of it, but that's easy enough to make, as well as a little bit along the back if needed. I see you have a gate to the right as well, so you'd want that to be clear for access as well, so perhaps a single, larger shrub nearest the shed, or back and centre, then lower planting around it, so that all your access is clear.
There's certainly plenty of plants which will suit - I grow, or have grown, all of those plants I mentioned in that sort of aspect . I've largely given up on hostas as they just get decimated by slugs, but the rest are pretty resilient to any pests. I just posted on another thread and it's reminded me - Japanese anemones are another useful, vertical plant, and also Hellebores can take a fair bit of shade. The whites are great for shade/semi shade

 

I’d be inclined to put an evergreen hedge in that area to provide screening. Thuja plicata would tolerate those conditions and be easy to maintain. You could then block part of the view of the concrete wall and neighbouring shed, in time. It's a conifer but not thuggish like Leylandii and can be easily maintained. I have three in a row to block the view of my neighbour's home office (shed!).

 

Yes - it largely depends on whether you want to screen the wall or not, but that would be quite tricky, because they'd need to be pretty big. The easiest method of screening something dominant is to have something further in - ie towards your house, which doesn't need to be as big because of the perspective.

 

Hi

whos wall is it yours ? I dont understand your fence next to it WHY ? What purpose does it serve

I would go for a holly , green all year round flowers for the insects , berries for the birds and would give you great cover 12 months of the year

 

It's a neighbour's wall @Spruce . The OP explained in the opening post that there's a gap between their fence and the wall, all belonging to the neighbour

Could always have a taller screen slightly further in with climbers too.

 

I'm assuming there's an access road or alleyway between the fence and the wall. That's how l see it anyway