Attention Elderflower

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Elderflower, in nearly every garden i'm now working at, there was an area similar to yours that has been there for years.
I have been making a point of trying to get these areas sorted out as they let the gardens down.
I have taken several different approaches to these problems.
But i must firstly say that i have got these areas weed free before i have done anything else, so your area will differ slightly from these.
Some of the worst areas i have just cleared and used for a bench and bird table, the ground could be covered with a weed control fabric and then something like bark chippings.
Some of the areas that aren't as bad ,i have increased the soil depth with a really thick layer of homemade compost, and then planted up with spring flowering bulbs and shade loving plants.
These have worked well but i think the tree roots will work their way up, so will have to add compost each year.
One more thought for your area could be to clear as much as possible, and if you can get a slight tilth to the soil just broadcast some annual wildflower seed in the spring, after the flowers have dropped their seed, cut everything back down to ground level including the brambles.
You could also include a Buddleia, and prune this hard in the Spring.

Just a few ideas and maybe of a little help.

Sorry i had to put it under a new topic, but i kept getting this error 403 coming up, so stopping me from replying.

[Elderflower]

Thank you so much OH! There are some really interesting ideas.
I like the wildflower one I think. It would also be nicer than brambles for the people visiting the garden of rest next door. (and it might persuade them not to throw their cellophane flower wrappers and water containers on to my plot. )
I`ll let you know how I get on.