I hate trees

Ralph-y

Hi, we live in an old house that is completely (well all most) shaded by two sycamore trees ....

we struggle to grow flowering plants and mainly sick with fushia and geraniums.

The wife has this year tried a few vegetables in and out of a small plastic greenhouse with out much success

can any one point us to any info on improving ? may be specific types that grow in shaded light ?

thanks and happy xmas

Ralph:cool:

kazwookie

Can you cut the branches off the tree slightly? or get someone in to do it for you?

RAS

Where are the trees? What is their diameter say 2 metres above ground level?

Mojisola

Ralph-y wrote: »

Hi, we live in an old house that is completely (well all most) shaded by two sycamore trees ....

we struggle to grow flowering plants and mainly sick with fushia and geraniums.

The wife has this year tried a few vegetables in and out of a small plastic greenhouse with out much success

can any one point us to any info on improving ? may be specific types that grow in shaded light ?

Can you get the trees thinned or even felled? There are far nicer trees that you could plant instead which would look good and let you grow ornamental and veggie plants in your garden.

There would be more light inside the house as well.

I_have_spoken

Are they in your garden? Is there a TPO? If yes and no, get them taken down. Sycamores are giant non-native weeds

Ralph-y

"Can you cut the branches off the tree slightly? or get someone in to do it for you?"

I wish ......

"Where are the trees? What is their diameter say 2 metres above ground level?"

they are full size mature trees

"Can you get the trees thinned or even felled? There are far nicer trees that you could plant instead which would look good and let you grow ornamental and veggie plants in your garden."

nope

"There would be more light inside the house as well."

I know .... we have lights on .... on all but the brightest days .....

so thanks for the above ....

I should have explained more ....... slap on the wrist done

The house is in a conservation area .....

trimming 8% in one year
15% in two ...... oh and the cost ££££££ and that's just to the council ......

lottery permitting I would willingly pay the £4,000 plus to kill chop and burn them ........

I once heard a tree expert giving advice on sycamore trees ......

some one had asked how close to the house could she plant ...

he recommended 3 miles ....

and then said no ! lets be safe 5 miles up wind!

sorry

rant over .....

the sad thing is the house garden is south facing .... so it would be gapes and passion fruit ......

nope we need things for very partial shade

Ralph:cool:

Mojisola

There's lots of choice for ornamental plants that thrive in shade, eg https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=100

Ralph-y

yes after 30 years of these tree we do have some ......

I was hoping for some veg that might cope with shade ......

we manage a couple of pots of herbs in the yard below the garden but not much .... the best herbs come from the neighbors garden .... glorious sage and rosemary ......

thanks anyway

Ralph:cool:

bouicca21

My first house had a very shady area which was doubly difficult for being alkaline. As I remember it (it was a long time ago) we had mahonia, Solomon's seal, cosmos, and i have a distinct memory of marigolds one year.

Since your patch is shaded by trees it must be acidic? So you could grow azaleas and pieris?

Davesnave

bouicca21 wrote: »

Since your patch is shaded by trees it must be acidic?

That wasn't the case where I used to live. There might have been some acidification, but having trees wouldn't be enough alone to radically alter pH.

All trees die if you kill them. I'm not going to advocate doing that, but I know I wouldn't tolerate such a situation unless I'd allowed it to happen, or I'd willingly bought into it.....

Oh, hang on....

walkers-crisps_are_evil

Ferns are great for shade as are hostas. Astilbe are worth putting in and can be lifted in winter and divided. Ornithogalum magnum bulbs planted in Autumn do well in shade mixing with bluebells and snowdrops, cyclamen.