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  • Welcome to the Garden Ninja Gardening Forum! If you have a gardening question that you can't find answers to then ask below to seek help from the Garden Ninja army! Please make your garden questions as specific and detailed as possible so the community can provide comprehensive answers in the online forum below.

    Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1's Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.

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    Designing a new shady flower bed

    I have a new garden bed which is south facing but does get shade from our oak tree. I planted it up last year with spring bulbs and then verbena, geum, aquilegia etc for summer colour in a purple & orange theme. Over the summer all the plants just look scraggly and leggy and not how I had imagined it to look. Any ideas on what would work better ? Thanks Lynn 

    Hi Lynn,

    It sounds like you may have planted the wrong plants in the wrong place I'm afraid. That's because all of the specimens you have chosen (with the exception of Aquilegia) love full sun!

    If you've planted them under an oak tree with shade this is why they are leaning and looking leggy. Leggy is a term used for plants when they grow long tall and thin, usually when they are reaching for more sunlight. Don't worry though this is all part of the gardening learning curve. You can find more on garden aspects and how this impacts plant growth with my video guide below.

    If I were you I would move them out from under the tree. Move them this Autumn to a brighter position in the garden. This thread here will explain how to move plants successfully.

    If you're looking for plant ideas for a shady flower border then here's my top ten guide on the best shady plants with colour and interest!

    All the best in moving and replanting the flower bed!

    Lee

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