Hi, I'm new to this forum, and am in need of some advise. I have an area of garden that I am having difficultly matching plants to and when I try, I have very little success. This area is on the south-facing wall of my house and appears to get about 6 hours of mid-day sun, with full shade the rest of the time. It is about 3 foot wide and runs the length of my house at 24 feet long. We went the cheap route when walling off this section and bought poor topsoil, so I know I need to improve my soil quality. I have tried a few full sun plants there and they didn't do well. I'd like minimal maintenance (weeding, some pruning, etc.) and to find a way to fill in the area in an inexpensive manner. I had considered 2 or 3 hydrangea bushes in the area and then filling in with ground cover, but every hydrangea I look at says to protect from mid-day sun.
So I'm not really sure where to go with this plot of land. Currently it grows weeds very well, but I'm sure my neighbor is less than enthused about that. Should I aim for full sun plants? What about ground cover? I'm a novice gardener and have been s-l-o-w-l-y trying to build my shade gardens (at only 4 to 5 new plants each year) and would like this project finished so I can focus on my shade gardens again.
Any help that anyone can offer is greatly appreciated!!! Oh, and I'm in zone 5b if that helps.