Shady side of the plot

So, there's no real reason north-facing should mean a landscape of bare earth. But if you are going to plant in shade,

you need to stack the odds in favour of the plants.

Most shade-lovers like a damp, rich soil, so if your site is sheltered by a wall or a hedge or trees, you should improve the soil with plenty of organic material.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are certain plants which will flower well without being bathed in sun. There's a lovely geranium – G macrorrhizum – which blooms May-July and produces pretty pale flowers. And the leaves are scented.

And a real hardy sort is Epimedium x rubrum with red spikes of flowers in May and deep bronze foliage which turns to gold in autumn.

For equally pretty foliage, consider Vinca minor (the periwinkle) whose variegated form also flowers, dainty blue. Creeping jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) is ever popular, spreading and filled with lovely foliage and brilliant, small yellow flowers. Bergenia (elephant's ears) will thrive, producing large, evergreen leaves and pink flowers in spring.

And for a quick-fix, try everlasting begonias which will flower in shade, although not as well as in sun. They are a handy annual to use for filling gaps, and they live up to their name – they flower and they flower until the first frosts.

Skimmia, certain viburnums, pyracanth and cotoneaster will all grow reasonably well in shade, but they are more shrubs than ground-coverers.

And then there are bulbs – in particular, winter aconites, early-flowering wood anemones, snowdrops and the delightful cyclamen, C coum, which grows low and flowers pink in early spring.

And last but certainly not least, ivies are particularly good choices for shade – they come in a wide range of foliage colour, shape and size, so there should be one for every situation.

One of the finest is Hedera helix 'Glacier' with small leaves edged with silver.

And if you want something to deter cats, dogs, trespassers and all other sundry items on two or four legs, look no further than a prostrate juniper – spreading and a plant with attitude. So, plenty to go at. And no reason any shady site shouldn't flourish.