Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large but
thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the path,
and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

My 'gardener' has seen a similar situation. What has been done is .....

Dig the soil out and fill with gravel.

On this put pot plants like Pelargoniums or something similar. (This case
had sunshine, you would need shade plants)

On the wall or fence, hang wall baskets or pouches etc.

Mike


"Kate" wrote in message ...

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large but
thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the path,
and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

Kate wrote in
:

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed
weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large
but thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the
path, and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

In my west facing border, which is in full shade, I sowed some mixed
Calendula sometime in June. I have had great success with germination, but
the flowers are small. I only water them when I remember to. Bees love
them.
Better than looking at weeds, even so, the weeds grow between them.

Baz

On 28/07/13 09:21, Kate wrote:
Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large but
thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the path,
and won't mind the shade?

Bulbs, for a start, and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones), aconites, Christmas rose; and ivies make
fine ground cover: there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

--
Rusty Hinge

RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start, and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones), aconites, Christmas rose; and ivies make
fine ground cover: there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.


How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.

Baz

On 2013-07-28 08:21:13 +0000, Kate said:

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large but
thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the path,
and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

Hostas and gravel on top of the soil?
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

On 28/07/13 17:04, Baz wrote:
RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start,

Following spring, mostly

and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones),

Following spring, mostly.

aconites,

Following spring

Christmas rose;

Planted early enough, autumn to winter, and lasting through to spring.

and ivies make
fine ground cover:

Kept watered, they will start growing imeejitly.

there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

And broomrape - if you has the right roots for it to parasitise, will
grow in deepest shade.
How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.

--
Rusty Hinge

On 28/07/2013 19:09, RustyHinge wrote:
On 28/07/13 17:04, Baz wrote:
RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start,

Following spring, mostly

and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones),

Following spring, mostly.

aconites,

Following spring

Christmas rose;

Planted early enough, autumn to winter, and lasting through to spring.

and ivies make
fine ground cover:

Kept watered, they will start growing imeejitly.

there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

And broomrape - if you has the right roots for it to parasitise, will
grow in deepest shade.
How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.


The OP did say from seed.

On 2013-07-28 20:24:43 +0100, David Hill said:

On 28/07/2013 19:09, RustyHinge wrote:
On 28/07/13 17:04, Baz wrote:
RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start,

Following spring, mostly

and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones),

Following spring, mostly.

aconites,

Following spring

Christmas rose;

Planted early enough, autumn to winter, and lasting through to spring.

and ivies make
fine ground cover:

Kept watered, they will start growing imeejitly.

there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

And broomrape - if you has the right roots for it to parasitise, will
grow in deepest shade.
How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.


The OP did say from seed.

If seed is essential, hardy geraniums are colourful, shade tolerant
(mostly) and spread well, too.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 28/07/13 20:24, David Hill wrote:
On 28/07/2013 19:09, RustyHinge wrote:
On 28/07/13 17:04, Baz wrote:
RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start,

Following spring, mostly

and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones),

Following spring, mostly.

aconites,

Following spring

Christmas rose;

Planted early enough, autumn to winter, and lasting through to spring.

and ivies make
fine ground cover:

Kept watered, they will start growing imeejitly.

there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

And broomrape - if you has the right roots for it to parasitise, will
grow in deepest shade.
How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.


The OP did say from seed.

If you can get seed - apart from broomrape, that is.

Virtually everything else is usually sold as corms or bulbs.

Give celandines a thought, too. Prolly get seeds for those from Chiltern
Seeds. And violets and ramsons.

Bulbs from seed usually take several years to flower.

--
Rusty Hinge

sacha wrote in
:

On 2013-07-28 08:21:13 +0000, Kate said:

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed
weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large
but thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct
the path, and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

Hostas and gravel on top of the soil?

Sacha, why gravel on top of the soil? Just asking.

Baz

On 2013-07-29 11:55:00 +0100, Baz said:

sacha wrote in
:

On 2013-07-28 08:21:13 +0000, Kate said:

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed
weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large
but thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct
the path, and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

Hostas and gravel on top of the soil?

Sacha, why gravel on top of the soil? Just asking.

Baz

To discourage the slugs. It also sets the Hostas off well and seems to
suit them!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 28/07/2013 09:21, Kate wrote:
Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large but
thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct the path,
and won't mind the shade?

Thanks




I don't suppose you remember which weeds did well there? There may be
more ornamental relatives you could use in their place. Also, if we
knew what grew there before, it would guide us better to light levels
and promote more ideas.
Is this access path much used? Would (relatively) tall plants create a
tripping hazard?

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

David Hill wrote in news:b5l9fnF2rvpU1
@mid.individual.net:

On 28/07/2013 19:09, RustyHinge wrote:
On 28/07/13 17:04, Baz wrote:
RustyHinge wrote in
:


Bulbs, for a start,

Following spring, mostly

and small anemones (I love blanda, but there are
other shade-tolerant ones),

Following spring, mostly.

aconites,

Following spring

Christmas rose;

Planted early enough, autumn to winter, and lasting through to spring.

and ivies make
fine ground cover:

Kept watered, they will start growing imeejitly.

there are some quite violently^h^h^interestingly
coloured ones these days.

And broomrape - if you has the right roots for it to parasitise, will
grow in deepest shade.
How long from sowing to see some flowers, Rusty.


The OP did say from seed.

Yes, but I think the advice was given as an alternative. I think it's
late to be sowing seed now, especially in sheltered areas.
The OP can start this autumn to have flowers next spring and into next
summer, and even later?

Baz

Sacha wrote in :

On 2013-07-29 11:55:00 +0100, Baz said:

sacha wrote in
:

On 2013-07-28 08:21:13 +0000, Kate said:

Hi

We have a long strip of soil, 6" wide by about 40 foot long, running
alongside an access path between a fence and a wall (so full shade).

For along time this was just overgrown with weeds, but now hubby has
cleared it

I don't want to spend much as it's a bit out of the way, but I'd just
like something to fill the space and look slightly nicer than mixed
weeds.

Any ideas for plants that will grow quickly from seed to fill a large
but thin space like this, not get too tall or too wild to obstruct
the path, and won't mind the shade?

Thanks

Hostas and gravel on top of the soil?

Sacha, why gravel on top of the soil? Just asking.

Baz

To discourage the slugs. It also sets the Hostas off well and seems to
suit them!

Oh! The dreaded slugs.
I bought a Hosta 'Patriot'in March or April, because I liked it's green and
white and it is now almost an ex-Hosta. I tend to neglect ornamental plants
for some unknown reason. Well, 50% is nearly stalks instead of leafs.
I am going to put some gravel around it right now.

Thanks
Baz