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ridiculous driveway design

mbrightha's picture

ridiculous driveway design (post #15404)

mbrightha on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 13:35
in

I have a silly narrow bed between walk and driveway. If it were wider I could plant a low hedge to screen cars but visitors sometimes open doors over it. It's on a slope so rain washes away mulch. It's hot and dry with all the concrete.  All I've come up with is clover for the rabbits; it's green and helps cool down the soil for the crape myrtle and holly above and takes foot traffic. I wonder if something soft, maybe a 12 inch grass would be more interesting up by crape and leave the clover for the pointed bottom bit.


Is there an alternative I'm missing?


 

-A +A
the country gardener's picture

(post #15404, reply #1 of 5)

by the country gardener in reply to mbrightha [original] on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 16:18

You haven't filled out your profile, so I don't know where you live. But if this were mine, here in Zone 8, I'd go with the grasses you were thinking of (I really like that idea) and plant creeping Thymes or some other "steppable" down where the walk and drive converge. I think I'd drop in something with color between the grasses and the steppables too. Clover can be invasive by both root and seed, which is why I would eliminate it.

Marty


"The plants have been good to us."  Lester Hawkins

Marty

"The plants have been good to us."  Lester Hawkins

Noel-in-England's picture

Have you considered (post #15404, reply #2 of 5)

by Noel-in-England in reply to Anonymous [original] on Fri, 02/19/2010 - 11:34

Have you considered Camomile?   Chamomile nobile / Anthemis noblis - 6 ins apart, Hardy Zones 4-9 You could even drink the Herb tea....

 

NO fertilser needed.  Sunny well-drained stuff - i.e. not compacted.

 

Not like any flowers? There's a non-flowering variety  called "Treneague" .  That's on ma'ams lawn at "Buck House" .

 

LIBugGuy's picture

You might try creeping Phlox, (post #15404, reply #3 of 5)

by LIBugGuy in reply to mbrightha [original] on Sat, 02/20/2010 - 08:53

You might try creeping Phlox, Phlox subulata, which loves dryish, well drained sunny spots

But be aware that it will grow over the drive and walk if you let it.

I planted some next to my driveway, and it currently covers about 1' x 4' of drive, tho it hasn't spread much into the lawn.

Yes, it takes foot traffic!  Plays well w others (thyme, clumping grasses, bulbs) and will be covered w flowers in the spring. 

I'd add spring bulbs (crocus?) where they won't get trampled

Selling plants from the Orange box, and doing a little garden work on the side.

LI, NY, almost zone 7, but it's been warmer of late :)

mcbrowne85's picture

How about sedums and rock (post #15404, reply #4 of 5)

by mcbrowne85 in reply to mbrightha [original] on Tue, 04/06/2010 - 12:53

How about sedums and rock garden plants that might be well suited to all the surrounding concrete because they are very drought tolerant?

altavitae's picture

narrow border (post #15404, reply #5 of 5)

by altavitae in reply to mbrightha [original] on Tue, 10/19/2010 - 09:49

I just planted a narrow border very similar to yours with Liriope  spicata. This plant has grassy-narrow dark green leaves,  is evergreen here in the East; a really tough plant, grows about 1 foot tall with lavender flowers in summer. It will require very little care after established.

This is categorized as a groundcover, sometimes available at Lowe's; can also be mail-ordered.

Take a look at it.