Planting Near Privets

[WeAreBongo]

Calling all green-fingered cycber-peeps.  I have a question.  I have a not-so-sunny border adjacent to a line of privets, but anything I plant there seems to wither and die.  Does anyone know of a nice bright flowering thing that will flouring in these harsh extreme conditions?  Thank you 1000 times. 

[WeAreBongo]

Oops, should read my posts before submitting them!!  Cycber-peeps = cyber-peeps, flouring = flourish!!! Doh!

[ursula62]

Try pansies - they love the sun, are very forgiving of neglect and come in a huge range of colours and patterns... and they don't mind privet.

[mfewell]

I've got a shady part of the garden. Mimulus do well, with cheerful flowers, also aquilegia (but you'll never get rid of them!). Bluebells and daffodils in spring. Colourful ivy. Ferns.

The privet may have impoverished the soil somewhat, so the more organic matter you can dig in the better. When I sow or plant out I dig biggish holes and fill them with general purpose compost, it's cheap enough in the supermarkets and year by year makes the soil better.

Another tip is to see what is growing in shady areas of other gardens in your neighbourhood.

[woofgang]

You could root prune the privet which might help. Basically you dig a trench where you want to plant things and chop out any privet roots that are in the trench. Line the hedge side of the trench with weed suppressing membrane to stop the roots growing back in then re fil the trench with good earth or what you dug out enriched with compost.

[ceebee007]

Try Nasturtiums.  They flower best in poor, dry soil so they may be ideal for your border.  If the soil is too good or if you feed them, all you get is enormous leaves and hardly any flowers.

It's getting a bit late for this year but try planting a packet of seeds early next spring.  Good luck!

[charliep88]

try sitting down when you pee

[Tim Baxter]

Privet is notoriously hungry for the nutrients in your soil.  If you can, get rid of it and plant a fence!  I have seen Montbrecia climbing up through a privet hedge and it looks good.  You will want hardy plants at the base such as helibores, Bizzy Lizzies, Hostas.  Shrubs which will do well are Holly and Rhododendrons and azaleas.  There are lots of small/dwarf conifers which will also tolerate shade.

[WeAreBongo]

Thank you cyber-peeps.  I will try one or two of the flowering things mentioned.  Unfortunately the missus likes the privets (of course, she doesn't have to prune them!!) so getting rid isn't an option!