What to do with small patch of earth?

[sheepdogdelight]

We have a small strip of ground - about 1.5m x 60cm (but it tapers) along the side of our garage, next to the public footpath. Because it's a bit out the way and invisible from the house, we'd like to do "something with it" that means we can subsequently pretty much forget about it and let it look after itself, or at least have to provide minimal care.

We used to have bushes, but there were concerns their roots was causing the garage to subside so we had to rip them out. We then put in some nice edging and stones with a few plants, but local children climbed all over it until the edging collapsed and it became a cat toilet. Most recently we turfed it over but, possibly because of the shade of the garage, the grass never really took and it was a pain to constantly mow such a short strip that wasn't near our other grass.

So we've dug it over and now want to do something else with it. Just not sure what! Any ideas?

Do you have a photo you can share OP? I can’t picture it. Could you turn it into a wild patch for wildlife? I was reading this from the PTES today

I'd put lots of something like lady's mantle....easy, spills over edges slightly to soften the space, looks so pretty with the drops of water in it, tough, will fill the space and fine in shade. Wildlife gardens don't have to be flowers (most prefer sun): shelter and cover are so important too.

you could put a ground cover plant like Vinca?

or lots of ferns if it is a damp shady area.

Could we have a photo?

Ferns with bulbs underneath for early spring colour. Very easy to maintain - even I can’t kill ferns!

Climbers to grow up the side of the garage? Climbing hydrangea would work if it’s shady. You’d need to hack it back every so often if it went too far but not loads.

Then ground cover for the rest - creeping bellflower is very self sufficient (ok some people say it’s a weed but a very pretty one IMO).

Also agree with ferns!

Loads of lovely plants grow in shade, but a good one is ground covering ivy, it is so good for bees and other insects, evergreen and needs no maintenance other than a haircut to keep it within boundaries.

I'm a big fan of ivy, it's native, evergreen, it flowers late when few other plants are, has fruit which birds like, provides cover for birds and hibernating insects and, iirc, is the food plant for several moths and butterflies like the Holly blue. It does need to be kept in hand though but not too onerous if it's a smaller area.

Berberis. Small shrubs that don't get too large, pretty coloured leaves, nice flowers, and they are also prickly to deter unwanted visitors.

Clover, it wont need mowing as grows to a specific height then stops and is great for pollinators. Wild flowers are great as long as you don't mind seeds in other nearby areas of turf.

I planted wildflowers around my pond and now the entire turfed area is like a meadow - I'm happy with the scruffy look but you may not be.

Starr with the aspect. Is it shady or sunny? Soil fry or damp?