thinking of a Bog garden.

[celt]

Have been having a mooch about but have not found the answer to maybe my biggest conern.

Will one work in total shade ?

[Susie]

Of course!!

Just think of what can naturally occur in nature, there are many shaded boggy places. Are you concerned about what you can grow successfully in a bog garden in total shade?

[Jez]

Here's a few wild plants which could thrive in a Partial/shaded bog garden:-

Globe Flower,
Grass Of Parnassus
Water Avens
Flag Iris
Hemp Agrimony
Royal Fern
Common Valerian
Meadow Sweet
Gladwyn Iris
Solomons Seal
Marsh Marigold
Purple & Yellow Loosestrife

I think most will do well in partial dappled shade than a deep shaded spot!

A good non native is Yellow Skunk cabbage for example.

[celt]

Originally Posted by Susie

Of course!!

Just think of what can naturally occur in nature, there are many shaded boggy places. Are you concerned about what you can grow successfully in a bog garden in total shade?

Thanks Susie, To make things more clear, The garden is north facing.

There is a gap of about 20 foot between the houses so the left hand side will get the sun for a while late morning. Sadly, this space contains only a concrete path, and a raised bed with very large to very small deciduous trees, with a six foot wall beind them. It looks like this.



So at the very back corner it is very shaded and was thinking of just clearing the brambles, digging it over and letting it 'do its own thing' with the old log pile etc.

Or, turn it into a bog area ?

The back of the house, will get some sun in late evening and looks like this.



So, wondering what part would be best for the bog garden ?

As, if the bottom bit was the bog area which has cover and trees it would not be good for hedgehogs mice whatever.

The site by the house is open and would have to stay that way for access to window cleaners etc ?

Ideas please.

[celt]

Originally Posted by Jez

Here's a few wild plants which could thrive in a Partial/shaded bog garden:-

Globe Flower,
Grass Of Parnassus
Water Avens
Flag Iris
Hemp Agrimony
Royal Fern
Common Valerian
Meadow Sweet
Gladwyn Iris
Solomons Seal
Marsh Marigold
Purple & Yellow Loosestrife

I think most will do well in partial dappled shade than a deep shaded spot!

A good non native is Yellow Skunk cabbage for example.

Thanks Jez, yeah I really want the yellow skunk cabbage, they look fantastic.

[ron1863]

I would make your bog garden as far away from the trees as possible. Not only will digging up the roots be difficult but once cleared they will grow again and deprive the area of water, drying it up, unless you have a steady water supply.
Have you had any thoughts about a pond

[Tursiops2]

[quote=celt;420669]

So at the very back corner it is very shaded and was thinking of just clearing the brambles, digging it over and letting it 'do its own thing' with the old log pile etc.

Or, turn it into a bog area ?

[quote]

This doesn't sound at all like a promising location for a bog garden, nowhere near enough sun. "Doing its own thing" sounds much better, get plenty of organic material into the ground, plant some native ferns and sedges. Don't be too brutal with the bramble either, its a good wildlife plant in its own right, it just has to be kept under control.
T2

[celt]

Originally Posted by ron1863

I would make your bog garden as far away from the trees as possible. Not only will digging up the roots be difficult but once cleared they will grow again and deprive the area of water, drying it up, unless you have a steady water supply.
Have you had any thoughts about a pond

Yeah, spot on Ron. Yes a small pond is defo in the plans, smack in the middle of it all.

[ron1863]

Try to get a hold of some Iris for your pond, beautiful foilage and flowers and good for attracting insects such as Dargonflies.

[celt]

[quote=Tursiops2;420683][quote=celt;420669]

So at the very back corner it is very shaded and was thinking of just clearing the brambles, digging it over and letting it 'do its own thing' with the old log pile etc.

Or, turn it into a bog area ?

This doesn't sound at all like a promising location for a bog garden, nowhere near enough sun. "Doing its own thing" sounds much better, get plenty of organic material into the ground, plant some native ferns and sedges. Don't be too brutal with the bramble either, its a good wildlife plant in its own right, it just has to be kept under control.
T2

Sounds good, yes, some of the bramble will stay in odd clumps here and there.
When it gets warmer, I plan to spend a night in there with torch to see if anything does live there as it seems inpenatrable to anything. We are talking a solid foot deep of dead twig/small branch matter.
I have not found any nests either, this place has not been set foot on for at least ten years.