Small weed suppressing part shade plants?

[AlmostCutMyHairToday]

I have a narrow margin along a fence where the grass doesn't grow and is often taken over by weeds. I'd like to install some small plants here that will help to cover this bare patch and suppress weeds.

It gets approx 4hrs direct sun in the morning, clay soil, London UK.

Ideally evergreen, and narrow eg 10-20cm (the garden is v narrow), and something not too aggressive so wont invade into the lawn.

So far ideas include

Primrose - recommendations on varieties?
Himalayan Maidenhair Fern
Barrenwort (Epimedium)
Wild ginger - though might this invade the lawn?
Maybe a small grass like seslaria caerulea

Maybe

Many thanks

Sweet woodruff would work but it disappears in winter

Things like primroses could well be overtaken by weeds. What sort of weeds do you have? Perennial weeds like bindweed will overrun everything else.

This is one of the perpetual problems in gardening! How to grow something that is vigorous enough that it blocks out the plants you don't want, whilst not invading the plants you do want, is very strong but amazingly well behaved, and willing to fit into a small gap, but no further. And evergreen. And tolerant of sun for only part of the day. And fond of clay soil.

Some suggestions;
Vinca minor
Ferns - these can look fantastic, but choose carefully for size, and accept there may be some overhang over the edge of the lawn.

A question - why do you want the grass? Unless you have a lifestyle that really needs a small lawn, why not get rid of the grass and plant things that you really enjoy?

Violets, but not evergreen

Vinca is evergreen but a thug

Lamium, again not evergreen, can take over

Tiarella, not evergreen but has leaves for a long time

Ferns a good idea

Oh and also I’d consider growing climbers up the fence. Trachelospermum does ok in shade, climbing hydrangea does well and is self suckering (but needs a strong fence!). These won’t fill the soil but will compete with weeds so discourage them to some extent.

Epimedium here does keep some leaves overwinter I remove them in spring like ferns. Also “mind your own business “ I don’t know the correct name but grows here not too fast and easy to pull up

@B0D that looks really lovely.

@MadameBethune haha so true! Maybe I should just embrace the weeds and find one that I like, and plant it on purpose.

I love oxalis (wood sorrell) - would it be a grave mistake? If it starts to creep into the lawn, can I just mow it and it becomes low growing..? I've been trying to sow white clover into the lawn anyway!

@HumphreyCobblers sweet woodruff does look nice. Do you have any right next to lawn? If so, does it spread into the lawn and need weeding out or can you just leave it and mow over it?

Why don’t you make a proper bed. Dig a nice clean line, turn over the soil, edge it and then plant whatever you like. No need to worry about plants creeping into the lawn then.

Sadly the garden is too narrow

With the new photo, perhaps some creeping thyme might work. It won’t mind being against the fence and would like the morning sun. It’s inexpensive too - just in case it doesn’t work. Good luck!

Maybe some shade lovers like:
Disporopsis
Podophyllum
Beesia
Melittis
Saruma
Yellow Archangel

I have sweet woodruff in a similar spot and it doesn't seem to spread into the lawn. I'll post a photo tomorrow if I remember.

I would just cut a nice clean edge and keep it hoed. Done weekly, the hoeing would be a five minute job, if that. Seedlings can be left to die on the soil. The secret is to weed before the weeds grow beyond the seedling stage.

4h sun is pretty good, full sun just requires 6 hours and I have bits of the garden that get <2 hours at this time of year and they do noticeably better than the sections that get absolutely no direct sun.

I agree that climbers are the way to go and since it is partial shade that gives you lots more choice. You'll probably have success with honeysuckle, shade tolerant rose, clematis, winter jasmine or star jasmine (the later is not a true jasmine). Then below them you could have some camomile, this is evergreen but does need weeding regularly because it willget overpowered by weeds. But it smells gorgeous and won't outcompete the grass.

Ooh yes please, would love to see how it looks next to lawn

Heres the pic! Unfortunately it's not next to the grass as I had a load of creeping cinquefoil in the lawn which then spread into the beds. I'm going to plant another little pot of sweet woodruff in the gap to cover it and hopefully keep on top of the weeds.

I was given a tiny pot of woodruff a couple of years ago and put it in the ground. Regretted it ever since! It's been a total thug amd completely swamped the area. Created a huge mat of runners that are a bugger to dig out. It has also escaped to next door, so although I believe I have pulled all of our side out, it just creeps back.