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Suitable flowers/shrubs?

I have a small-medium north facing garden and live in a 3 storey house which blocks out even more sun in the garden. I'm looking to totally re-do the layout as it was when we moved in and put decking at the end of the garden (where we get a little sun) and have the rest laid to lawn. I plan on having a border around the sides of the lawn with various flowers and shrubs but what kind would be suitable for an almost fully shaded garden. Also could you tell me whether the lawn would be able to thrive in total shade?

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1. As what you are describing will be 'open shade', with no tree cover, most shade loving plants will prosper there. Your local nurseryman will best be able to tell you what is suitable for your 'growing zone'. . Grasses like fescue do well in open shade, and make beautiful lawns.
2. there are all sorts of flowering shrubs that thrive in the shade, pop along to your garden centre thy will give you sound advice. job done!
3. These flowers are perfect for your shady garden •Astilbe •Daylily •Hosta •Begonia •Dicentra •Iris •Caladium •Ferns •Lily of the valley consider staying off the grass as much as possible. You can fence off the area to keep the stress low until the grass has time to develop.
4. Your choice of plants partly depends on where you live, as some are more tropical than others. Easy plants, that are fine in the shade, with perhaps a little sun, include the Heucheras - flowering evergreen plants that come in a huge range of foliage colours. http://plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/heuchera_collage.jpg http://www.hairypotplants.co.uk/ekmps/shops/kirtonfarm/images/heuchera-palace-purple-419-p.jpg http://www.plantsforshade.co.uk/acatalog/Heuchera_rave_on_large.jpg False Castor Oil plants - Fatsia Japonica , for a dramatic foliage shrub, that will grow with minimal amounts of direct sunlight. http://www.garden-design-it-yourself.com/images/shade_gardens_fatsia_japonica.jpg For late winter/early spring flowers, the Hellebores are incredible : Helleborus niger http://www.shrubsdirect.com/shop/HELLEBORUSniger.jpg and Helleborus orientalis http://cache2.artprintimages.com/p/LRG/29/2903/BAVPD00Z/art-print/mark-bolton-helleborus-orientalis-hybrid-lenten-rose.jpg Astilbes are fine, if you have lots of water, but they do suffer if the soil dries out, and thus aren't my favourite to recommend. Hostas are great, mainly grown for their foliage: these die back in winter, and are less shabby in drier soils, but still need a reasonable amount of water, to keep them looking their best. Huge range of foliage colours, and some lovely flowers too. http://www.mailorderplants4me.com/images/thumbnail/hosta_hadspen_blue.jpg http://allanbecker-gardenguru.squarespace.com/storage/Hosta%20Wide%20Brim.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1242993026414 http://drzewaikrzewyozdobne.home.pl/attachments/Image/byliny/Hosta4.jpg Ferns can be fine, but they can inhibit other plant's growth, so I use them with caution. A tree fern can look remarkable, though a little expensive, and best with some sun, if they're mainly in shade. For your lawn, there are many varieties of the Fescue grass that are shade tolerant, and produce a very fine leaved lawn. Ryes are harder wearing, but don't thrive in deep shade, so I'd look for a mix of grass that's just Fescue based. For some fast colour, the Busy Lizzies, which are Impatiens, can be great in the shade. These flowering plants come in most colours that flowers come in, so are worth a look - they will die after the summer though, as they're annuals. http://springflowers1.homestead.com/feg_impatiens.jpg Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
5. for shrubs buy camellia,s, lovely flowers, rhododendron's, azalea's, pieris. under these you can plant cyclamens, lilly of the valley, snowdrops, bluebells which will all come up every year in spring. for bedding plants put in impatients (buzzy lizzie's) and begonias and that's all you,d need for a wonderful show of colour.
6. If your soil is acid you will have problems growing camellias, rhododendron's, azalea's or pieris so check your soil before spending money on expensive shrubs. Cheap test cards are available at garden centres or look at other gardens close by and see what others are growing. Perennial flowers are not so much of a problem so those advised would be OK.
7. Even in full shade, there are still lots of options for you in terms of plants to include as well as gardening techniques. For a more attractive garden, you can decide to add garden fountain/waterfalls or other water feature. For colors and texture, there is a good number of shade garden plants to choose from that require filtered sun or very limited light. Depending on your landscaping plan and preferred colors you can choose from: aguilegia swan pin and yellow aduja dixie chip bamboo sunset glow azaleas chocolate mints creeping raspberries camelot rose hydrangea blue bunny purple wintercreeper big leaf periwinkle rudbeckia autum colors witch hazel shrub armeria dusseldorf pride carolina allspice hellebore ivory prince heuchera mystic angel hostas and ferns For attractive border, low growing ornamental grasses work best. Options include: carex evergold black mondo grass hakonechloa all gold acorus ogon carex bowles golden liriope big blue evening elegance hakonechloa fubuki An important note to keep in mind is that the soil should be moist and high in organic matter. Good luck. :)