Ideas for side of driveway please (pics)

nikki02_2

The 2 essentials are low budget and low maintenence!

My house is rented so don't want to spend too much on it, and also I have a lot of other work in the garden to do so low maintenence is also a must!

My one idea was to lay down some weed control fabric and then cover with something like this



or something smaller and whiter, and perhaps more modern looking?


I'd like a bit of interest so thought about planting 3 lots of lavender or maybe standing them in pots instead?


Any ideas to improve mine, or totally alternative suggestions are extremely welcome!

sammyroser

I like the idea of pebbles/stone chips and some plant pots, that way you can change the plants easily.

Lavender can grow quite big and would overhang the path so unless you want to be trimming it back a lot.

I saw some very pretty plum slate pieces in homebase the other day. They look quite neon online but are actually a much paler shade. Good if you want to add some colour.

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=892731

nikki02_2

Thanks Sammyroser.

Perhaps not lavender then?

Any ideas for something colourful and fragrant that wouldn't require much pruning back?

shegar

Grey chippings are the cheapest, id have some dwarf lavertera, its very fragrant with lovely flowers that the bees and butterflies adore, grows to about 2 feet tall........

nikki02_2

Thanks Shegar. Would they be ok in pots, or better planted directly into the ground?

cootambear

strawberries

Queen_Latifah

cootambear wrote: »

strawberries

I would avoid anything edible if a car (fumes, dirty water from car washing) is going to be next to it, unless of course the strawberries will only be for decorative purposes.

blossomhill_2

Hows about alternating shale with suculents such as houseleeks?

shegar

nikki02 wrote: »

Thanks Shegar. Would they be ok in pots, or better planted directly into the ground?

Either way really, cos they are small so wont have too much root stock,if they are in ground then they will look after themselves after they have established, where if they are in pots you will always have to water them, ive got mine in ground..........

cootambear

Queen_Latifah wrote: »

I would avoid anything edible if a car (fumes, dirty water from car washing) is going to be next to it, unless of course the strawberries will only be for decorative purposes.

doubt if fumes will effect them - we do not have lead in petrol after all, plus how long would you let the engine run on a driveway?

dirty water might be bad if the car picks up oil splashes from motorway driving, though paid for car washing is cheap (I just allow the rain to do it myself).

sammyroser

Strawberries are not good as after you've finished harvesting you should cut them down. Not very attractive most of the year.

Herbs such as mint and rosemary are hard wearing plants difficult to kill and spread like crazy, also when you brush past them you get an amazing scent.

Rosemary gets these pretty blue flowers and mint comes in different varieties so different shades, I am particular fond of chocolate mint, dark green and brown leaves and honestly smells of chocolate, and pineapple mint for a yellow green.

Herbs do better if you keep cutting them, don't have to use them in cooking if you don't want to, either just throw away or add them into flower arrangements for a bit of something different and a lovely smell.

Or a final idea could be to plant a 'lawn' of clover, very easy to maintain, long roots so tough and it flowers.