what can I plant in a border where soil is awful?

[ggirl]

have tried to grow lavender and rosemary as love them and they're pretty easy
the rosemary is beautiful but the lavender died for som reason
it's quite sunny but poor soil due to nearby tree and hedge
have lots of empty bits I want to fill

Hmm, it's tricky getting thnigs to thrive under hedges etc, but if you try something that would usually be invasive or very vigorous you should be ok. Try euphorbia amygdaloides v robbiae, which is very common and you'll easily find in a garden centre. It's evergreen, quickly bulks up and provides excellent ground cover and has beautiful acid green bracts in the spring which last for ages. It will spread via runners under the soil, but that's probably to your advantage in such an unfavourable position.

Second Euphorbia - it grows like nobodys buisness. Have you thought about improving the soil? I'm gradually doing my borders, digging out some of topsoil, taking to tip & digging in well rotted manure.

thanks!!
sorry have been confusing in my OP
the border doesn't have a hedge but as there is a tree and a hedge nearby I am assuming the soil is depleted of moisture and nutrients becasue fo them. I put topsoil in before i planted the lavender and rosemary but the lav still failed.
so I would like something for groundcover but also for a bit of height too
will now go and look up euphorbia

ooh have just seen a pic of it
looks perfect and is has height too
will def go and buy some
cheers girls

Topsoil may not have nutrients in it, manure will help with this, also improves the texture of soil and its ability to hold moisture. Can you tell I'm recent convert

ah right
will get some shite then..eew
I wish I liked gardening

Reading with interest - like ggirl I wish I liked gardening, rather than hating it - or wish I had someone nearby who I could swap tasks with ie: I would happily iron, cook, babysit, but just not garden .

Can you make yourself like gardening - could be outside now instead of wasting spending time on Mumsnet .

my mum keeps saying "you'll like it when you get older"
I am 49 next month and still waiting

Are you my sister ggirl? My mum says exactly the same and I am 53 next week . My mum (late 70s) has a huge, beautiful garden and she spends hours in it.

what we need ragwort is a gardener!
wish my mum lived closer , I'd get her out there

If it's sunny and warm, you could try nasturtiums (I just read this article www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/30/alys-fowler-nasturtiums )

I'd try again with the lavender, though, if you can find a cheap little pot of it.

ooh interesting ,love nasturtiums
do I just get the seeds and chuck them in?

yes maybe I had duff lavenders.Never thought of that

I think lavendar is meant to work wherever, especially in dry places, so maybe do try again? Honestly manure is not gross, so long as its well rotted down, it just looks, feels & smells like compost. Maybe best to wear gardening gloves thouhg