Advice on suitable ground cover please

kevinjproctor

we have a patch of bare soil next to a concrete drive. the soil is only around 2" deep but fairly large on well drained hardcore. nearby is an area of love in a mist, which lovely as they are keep dropping seeds and getting bigger by the year. i do not want them to encroach on the new bare area,  i am looking for suggestions for a suitable plant that will give good ground cover after spreading fast and come back each year.

your views welcomed

kevin

Fire

woodruff

DampGardenMan

Purple-leaved Bugle.

Borderline

If it's a shady area, or semi shaded area, you could try Vinca Minor or Houttuynia Cordata 'Chameleon'. If it's quite sunny there, I think both Erigeron Karvinskianus and Campanula Portenschagiana can thrive in the shallow soil.

AuntyRach

Good suggestions there. I have sedums and thymes in a shallow bed. Alchemilla Mollis will spread even in poor soil (in fact it may spread too much!). Some of the hardy Geraniums might do ok - if it's sunny then Rozanne is pretty. 

Fire

Isn't two inches a bit shallow for geraniums?

Marlorena

I would also use Sedum's, in particular varieties Sedum spurium 'Voodoo' or 'Atropurpureum', both very similar.  They need very little soil.
The foliage is dark burgundy, very hardy, mine are popping through the ground now, and so easy to propagate, just break bits off and push into soil where you want, and more will grow very quickly..   sharp drainage essential.

Kitty 2

I have a bit beside my driveway which has a "carpet" of saxifrage. It grows like lovely mossy looking humps, is green all year round and flowers in the summer.
Also, doesn't mind being stepped on occasionally.

kevinjproctor

Thankyou all of you for your feedback

kevin 

hogweed

Saxifrages. or Tom Thumbs.