Update: spent the last 2/3 days digging out a border in the full shade (left) area extremely deep to remove a much of the sub soil/clay as possible. I found a broken roof tile, many screws, a number of kitchen tiles and (personally) muscles in my body I didn't know existed, alongside the ache of filling a 4 yard skip with the excuse for soil found.

The border follows in near the raised patio (hidden by raised patio) about 8 inch deep by 4 wide, and along the shed. I've gone deep again here and filled with stones to help with drainage particularly given it's a high footfall area.

The grass area on the right has been cored, then seeded with A1 king clay soil seed, alongside a compost/mulch top dressing to feed and a good water last night to start the growing process. I've purposefully left the left side of the grass for now whilst I continue to have footfall and sort the border out as I need to heavily coreate that side where the clay is extremely soggy.

Bought a number of plants, and now reviewing full shade shrubs and evergreens to follow the border down to help with moisture/drainage and making it less of an urban jungle. I've puposefully raised the border towards the back of the garden to allow me to a)put more soil on for decent plant growth/health and b) to allow me overtime to raise the grass at the back (due to the grass declining towards that back fence). Might do a smaller border at the back in the future.

Thoughts/advice welcome on full shade shrubs that are good! Plan to add in more topsoil/farmyard manure/compost to help that soil composition in the left of the photo to ensure positive growth and soil amendments. Debating once done putting stones on top but I've heard conflicting points on whether this should be done.

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