[bashful_badger]

I have a man hole cover right in the middle of my border, which as the border is only 2 foot wide anyway is not brilliant as its just a big bare gap currently.  Does anyone have any ideas of anything I could plant in it?  It's one of those you can put soil in the lid to disguise it a bit but it's obviously very shallow!

[Lindeggs]

Could you sit a pot on top of it and plant something in the container?  That would give you a lot more options than just the shallow-rooting stuff you would be able to do now.  And if it was a lightweight pot (eg plastic) it would be easy enough to lift it off when the cover needed to be lifted.

[arugula]

I would agree with lindeggs.

[bashful_badger]

I hadn't thought of that, maybe I could get one and put something trailing in it so it covers the pot a bit.  Its right near the front of my house which is the only problem, someone may take it for a walk!  Although its a quiet road, but someone ripped one of my lavenders out which are along the front wall and threw it onto my front step which died as we were away when it happened.  At least I assume someone ripped it out, unless it was an animal.  My friends mum suggested campanula.  I guess if it grows happily in a seed tray it'd be fine in the cover too as they're about the same depth. 

[Yorkie]

Something like a seed tray won't give a lot of root depth, and will dry out quickly given its surface area.  A taller pot would require a little less intensive care.

[maxyboo]

My campanula grows like mad. You could plant around the cover so there is a better soil depth and the campanula would still cover it. I would probably go for a pot so there was easy access if needed. Buy a cheapie and put a few bricks in the bottom so it's more difficult to pinch.

[lancashiregardeninggal]

What about herb pots - you can get lots of different shapes