Planting advice

[Greenleaves]

Good evening all

on one side of my plot I have a small bank in which a number of Hawthorns grow which provides good wind protection and due to the orientation of my plot casts no shade. The bank is what past tenants have cleared from the plot and is very stoney. I want to plant something that will compete with the weeds that grow there. Something evergreen would be nice but certainly not ivy......any suggestions?

[Scarlet]

Between your hawthorns? There are a few shade loving euphorbias that are evergreen, I have a few. I like to use them in flower arrangements ( though the sap is an irritant) or periwinkle/vinca

[Greenleaves]

Thanks Scarlet, as normal I never explanied myself very well. Not between but in front so in full sun. The area is about 1x10 mtrs

[Scarlet]

What do you want to get out of it? Just cover the ground. Attract the bees etc, you could just throw some wildflower seeds...or herb bed, perennials - chives, Rosemary, Egyptian onions etc.

[Scarlet]

10metres?! A row of blackcurrants

[veggiechicken]

Herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage. Evergreen and happy in rocky, sunshiny places. Bee attractants too
Underplant with strawberries and let them sucker everywhere.

[Greenleaves]

Thank you ladies, food for thought. I suppose I could grow squashes as the heavier leaves would help keep the weeds down.....thank you again

[Scarlet]

I've planted my blackcurrants through a weed membrane and I top dress with my wood chippings from the garden. There's not much maintenance apart from the pruning.

[Two_Sheds]

I want to plant something that will compete with the weeds

The only thing that will compete with weeds (which have become ideally suited to the place in which you find them) is stronger, more thuggish weeds.

If you want to grow nicer plants, you need to do the weeding, and keep on with the weeding. Once you get a nice clear patch, immediately plant it up with your chosen plants (I grow a mix of flowers on our weedy verges: see FB link below).

Keeping the patch fully planted up at all times will go a long way to keeping it weed-free, but you must help out by pulling the weeds that do come through.

It does get less work as time goes on, for sure, but you need to keep at it.

[Jungle Jane]

A long line of lavender plants would look & smell gorgeous,evergreen & great for beneficial insects. Pests such as whitefly don't like it, so good if planted near brassica & everywhere natural pest protection. I've read that rabbits don't like lavender too.