This area, coming downhill along a three-foot drop from the highest part of the yard to the lowest, has not been satisfactory. It’s all under oak shade, nicely dappled, but the roots allow almost nothing to grow naturally. The principle for planting under trees is build up, don’t dig down. One way is to construct three-quarter boxes from logs or stones, angled to the slope, and fill them with soil, then add a small shrub or perennial, and let it root in. I’ve made some pleasant areas with mostly shade plants, but as you can see middle left, a sunny section too, of sedum and hen and chicks.

My pathway here has been both devoid of growing things and over-large, spanning about five feet. A path should feel cozy. I chose these round planters to make a wall, in effect, that narrows the space, with one planter on the other side for an entry. I’ve filled them with leaf mould, and one bag of topsoil to finish. They’ll settle through fall, winter, and early spring, and should need another couple of bags each to top them off for planting. My plan is to do what I’ve know I should, and haven’t been serious about…

When I plant shop, I buy six different types of perennials, where I ought to buy six of one type, and divide them into two clumps of three. So I’m going to have heucheras, astilbes, and a single Wiggles and Squiggles hosta for each planter, and have this repeat down the hill, in the style of a true border. (I do have a dwarf Japanese maple in mind for one of the planters.)