Narrow/ shallow front garden border ideas...

[BobBobBobBobb]

I have a very narrow front garden border that I planted lots of bulbs (in a fairly haphazard, un-ordered way!) two winters ago. I had a baby last year and didn't really get much gardening or maintenance done. This spring most of the bulbs, except Narcissus 'thalia', aren't doing well at all - I can see lots of foliage but none seem to have any flowers coming.
So, I think the border is just not deep enough for most of them. I think this autumn I'll dig them all up and just plant Thalia all the way down the border. Is there anything I can plant with them, that might give a bit of interest at another time of year, that would look nice and cope with the not deep / narrow border? Ideally I'd like to plant en masse. The top part of the border is constantly in shade and the bottom two thirds do get some sun. Thanks in advance for any ideas you might have!

You need a few shrubs for year round, low maintenance structure. The bulbs can still come up around them, but you will also have something to look at for the rest of the year. Pittosporum, Rosemary, Bay - all low maintenance and evergreen. Lavender might be a good option in the sunnier parts - it likes poor soil.

Winter flowering: sarcocca does OK in shade. Ferns too. Some hydrangeas. A winter jasmine/winter honeysuckle could work in a sunnier spot with an obelisk to climb, too. A Daphne. Scent and colour!

Summer flowering: Lavender; Hebe could work - low maintenance and flowers well into the autumn. Add some allium bulbs. Alchemella Mollis self seeds like crazy and will fill the borders for you in a low maintenance way in summer. Woodruff will do the same. Chuck in some nasturtium seeds - great to plant with little ones - and they will come all summer and self seed too.

Sounds like a lovely project to have!

Take a look at Saxifraga x urbium (a.k.a. London Pride), evergreen with white flowers in late spring/early summer which the pollinators love.
Spreads quite easily, but isn't thuggish. It seems to like all sorts of conditions and is practically bomb proof.

I once saw an entire narrow border planted up in the garden of an historic house, and to say London Pride isn't a showy kind of plant, the border looked absolutely beautiful, in fact I plan to do the same this year.

Love this, @Tooty78 - am going to give it a try!

Alchemilla is a great idea - maybe mix with London pride and the Thalia and you'd have a good amount of interest for a good few months!

Ahhhhh thank you so much - these are all awesome ideas, and I'm drawing some new border plans inspired by your ideas now! Thank you so much 🙏 xx