How to make a secret garden for children

Question

I have a sloping piece of land at the end of my garden which at the moment is full of weeds. I have been thinking of turning it into a sort of secret garden or play area for my grand children but haven't any idea of where to start. The problem is that the area in question is all

on a slope that is quite difficult to walk down so am not sure if it will even be possible. Any ideas of what type of plants would be suitable? Most of the area is in the shade and it needs to be low maintenance too.

Answer 1

The first thing is to make some sort of level walking path divide the area into sections and make each section a separate room of plant life.

having it divided by large shade love plants with minute openings allowing entrance to the next room.  Privet hedges are cheap grow fast and tall and can be trained to form archways and entrances and the outline of the rooms.

Shade loving ground cover plants

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Ornamental grasses/  I wouldn't uses pampas grass as it can cut...

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Shrubs shade to partial shade

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All shrubs

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Suggestion Plan your and work your plan draw up a design plan for each room and select the theme of the room then select the flowers/ shrubs etc. for the design

Have Fun I wish I would have thought of this before my grandkids got too big.

Answer 2

Depending on the amount of cash you want to put into it, you could do a retaining wall and level off an amount of the slope by adding fill dirt.  As I'm sure you're aware, Hostas are great in shade and very low maintenance.  And there's a lovey plant called toad lilies for shade, too.  Forsythia bushes will grow in shade, too, and would provide a "screen" to make the area private.  And the plus is, they grow quickly.

Hope this helps.  Great idea.