Higgs Boson writes:

I need to cover a short area -- a path leading from the lawn to a gate
which is very rarely used. There is a small area to the R. of the
path, up against a neighbor fence.

After debating the up & down sides of DG and pebbles, I am not satisfied with either.

Can anybody suggest a ground cover that lies really, really flat and
is very tough. The aesthetics are sort of important, but the
practicalities over-ride.

This is So. Calif coastal.

Don't know what grows there.
Here in NJ we'd plant Pachysandra (about 6") or
Vinca (about 4").

They keep most other plants out without any work to speak of.

--
Dan Espen