here are some pics of the area. I think I need to move the rhodies out because they are not getting enough sun I think and maybe they will not be able to compete with the tree roots. I am assuming the hostas are happy because they are at least blooming. Is there anything else that will take full shade, be winter hardy to (-10F) and have some size to it to fill in the gaps?
The rhodies are planted about 3 ft from the trunk of the hemlock. I really did not run into roots much when I planted them. I also read that they like acid soil and will slowly croak with out it, so that could very well be my issue.
The pink Ps are impatiens. The yellow D is a dogwood tree I am going to move somewhere else. the red X are the rhodies and the red R is a Ruby Slippers hydrangea that I think the same thing of about the rhodies. Probably won't do well there long term so I am going to just move it out. There is a sweet gum tree and it is HUGE HUGE. it is also limbed up ALOT so I have this very large sort of hole there. I was wanting to put something kind of sizable there (thats why I put rhodies and hydrangea).
All the rocks, weeds in the foreground are of course not staying there permenant! The black tub is housing some goldfish right now-temporary.
The purple is hostas and the blooms are circled-lots of blooms so I equate that with happiness?
I plant nandinas (red N) around the sweet gum along with some pachasandra because I hope both will be vigorous enough to compete with the gum's roots (very rooty, not a yard friendly tree). If I continue improving the soil and adding mulch, will the hostas do ok with this much shade? They get no direct sun at all really, a little in the afternoon, but that will fade out as the pears (in the next photo) mature.
All junk in background is my neighbors and I hope to put some privacy fence along this in the next couple of years and I already have dappled willow shrubs, purple sand cherry and golden vicary privet planted along the line along with 3 Burford Holly shrubs.
ANY SUGGESTIONS appreciated very much- this area is so shady and rooty I don't know what to do! the dirt if horrible but I am slowly improving on that.
The next photo shows a longer range shot with the red Ps indicating 2 cleveland Pears I planted this spring. These will of course put out a lot of shade in a few years so the area will have even more shade. The area between the hemlock and the pears is mostly sun during the day right now. The area faces north, but the back side of the house is all that gets shade mostly-the first 5or 7 ft out from the house is full shade-no sun. From there out- mostly sun- I want to grow hostas in this eventually-so that is why I put in the pears. The right side of the pictures is west, so lots of hot afternoon sun the pears will block for the hostas.
