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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Planting suggestions for shallow soil over concrete

7 replies

Reluctantadult · 22/05/2023 21:36

I'm working on a flowing hedge next to my driveway. It's got a cherry, forsythia, spirea, and other things mixed in. It's not huge. I have a decent space in the corner by the house, and was going to plant a flowing shrub but when I started to dig, it's actually really shallow soil depth before concrete, too shallow to plant a shrub. And now I'm not sure what to do. My best idea is something from seed, like aquilegia but my sister said they have a deep tap root so not exactly that. Would really appreciate any suggestions! I need to cover the bare soil or bindweed will take over.

OP posts:
Edwardandtubbs · 22/05/2023 21:43

Erigeron grows anywhere in my experience
Vinca is good for ground cover

senua · 22/05/2023 21:46

Do you know how far out the concrete goes. Is it possible to find a tree/shrub that has a spread that is equal to or greater than the concrete.
Alternatively, you could use a concrete-breaker to make a planting pocket but that's a bit risky unless you know what is/isn't under the concrete (water pipes, electrical conduits, etc).

Reluctantadult · 22/05/2023 21:51

The spot is right by the gas meter and where the Internet comes into the house so I definitely won't be breaking up the concrete!

There's some periwinkle in the hedgerow already so that could be a good shout. It's a pretty sunny spot though.

OP posts:
JamMakingWannaBe · 22/05/2023 21:59

Creeping thyme or chamomile.

PlimplePlop · 22/05/2023 22:05

I have a similar area and things that have thrived include herbs such as oregano, chives, thyme. Strawberries do well. Forget me nots. Also crocosmia which has become quite invasive but I find easy to dig out as the bulbs are so shallow.

SgtBilko · 22/05/2023 23:12

I’ve got concrete under some of my garden and I grow perennial geraniums, scabious, muehlenbeckia, amongst other things. Some trailing ground cover would work well like Campanula.

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