Can I concrete this?

[Dilbertian]

My house has an inconvenient wedge of land between the building and my neighbour's drive. I have shaded it in the diagramme. Most of it is lawn and shrubs, but the last 8' or so is too narrow to do anything with. I've tried things like campanula, which succeed, but that strip just requires too much maintenance to keep it weed free (I'm not the keenest or most industrious of gardeners). There isn't even any soil there, just a shallow gravel-filled concrete trench

Can I fill it completely with concrete and have done with it? I'd much rather have plants there, and I'm sure I'd succeed if I wasn't a lazy bum. But after many years of weeds and ivy, maybe it's time to face up to reality.

My neighbour is completely polite, and has never complained about the appearance of this area, even though it is a few feet from her front door. I'm sure she'd also rather see flowers there than weeds, but I suspect she'd also rather see concrete there than weeds!

Is there any practical reason why I shouldn't just fill it with concrete? If I did so, how should I finish the end where the soil and the garden-able part of the garden begin?

Or is there a better, more attractive - and low-maintenace - solution?

[CatherinedeBourgh]

@Dilbertian

If I clear as much as I can of the ivy and brambles, and then cover the ground with membrane, will the ivy and brambles die? Or will they find their way back through the membrane?

No, they’ll push it up or grow around it.

[Dilbertian]

Buggers.

[CatherinedeBourgh]

They are indeed

[BuildingThings]

@Dilbertian you will need to spray the leaves with a herbicide first. This will kill the plant in about a month. When the leaves turn brown and start falling off is when you should remove it, lay down a membrane and then cover with either pebbles/gravel or bark. Bark is inexpensive.

[WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat]

It looks like there is a cable box mounted to the wall and so there may be a cable below the ground, one day someone may need access to it. There also appears to be a down pipe - maybe that's just soaking into ground. (I'm not sure you're supposed to do that these days)

I would probably infill it with matching blocks. Greater cost, better look (that you won't have the benefit of) Or 'lend' it to your neighbour and let them plant something.

[friskybivalves]

How.about sedums? They need zero nurturing or watering. Mine are resilient in shade or sun. Just kind of do their own thing. Occasionally sprout an interesting long stem and even a little flower. Keep themselves to themselves. But prettier and nicer environmentally than concrete.

[Saz12]

Dig out as much weed as you can. Then spray the regrowth. Or just spray immediately!

Then I would either:

a) weed membrane and gravel. Any weeds that pop through can be pulled out or sprayed with herbicide.

b) paving slabs. Personally I wouldn’t do this as they need to slope away from buildings for drainage, aren’t environmentally friendly to make (concrete is hugely polluting to manufacture), and you’ll need to jet-wash them occasionally anyway if they’re shady and damp.

c) thuggish ground cover, Something like periwinkle (vinca), Top dress with a layer of chopped bark to help suppress weeds. It will still need some weeding, but not much.

You could ask your neighbour if they have a preference? But whichever you go for you need to get rid of weeds first -boo!

[Dilbertian]

thuggish ground cover - I like the sound of that.

I would much rather have pretty plants than concrete. TBH I would allow the ivy free reign, were it not that the blasted stuff is literally making its way through closed double-glazing! I like ivy - I just dislike what it does.