ISO Advice: Scented walkway

Medz · 27 August 2020 at 3:35PM

Hello all,

I have recently dug out and laid a new garden path (photo attached).

I would like to arrange for the path to be a scented/fragrant walk way.

I would be grateful for advice on:

(i) what to plant along either side of the pictured path to achieve variety and year round interest; and

(ii) how many plants I will need and the distance they should be spaced out to achieve a strong free diffusing scent.

Separately I would also be grateful for advice on what to plant between each wooden step. I understand a certain variety of thyme is short in height and clump forming and happy to be under foot; and also a certain variety of camomile - both would also be weed suppressants. I don’t know which varieties however; and I really would love to know if there are other candidates I should consider for that particular role.

My thanks in advance for your kind counsel.

Best wishes.

-taff · 27 August 2020 at 9:00PM

Can't help you with the ones to either side but yes, creeping thyme and chamomile will give you scent and be quite tough when they are established, you might try prostrate rosemary too.

Davesnave · 28 August 2020 at 8:06AM

It's a pity, but in providing a good picture, which many others fail to do, you've made the construction the focus here.

The path looks an important one, yet it is only about 0.3m wide, and although I can't see if there's a sub-base, it looks like the thin wood may be just laid on earth. That won't make a safe or easy walkway, and if the construction is as above, it will soon subside.

The easiest and safest pathway would be gravel-based and you could still use the setts and plant into it. Wood becomes slippery in the winter and unless very substantial, it's too light to make a surface safe to walk on.

DiggerUK · 28 August 2020 at 8:14AM

We tried creeping thyme and weren't impressed, it grows a little too high for a lawn and had no aroma.

We are happy with short chamomile, not the flowering variety. But the one we really like is ground hugging herb Corsican Mint. It's also the flavouring agent used in Creme de Menthe.

I'd like to suggest that the wooden slats are viewed as temporary. Gradually replace them with an assortment of bricks over time, you can find plenty in skips for free..._

Davesnave · 28 August 2020 at 8:36AM

I agree about the Corsican mint, which can be grown from seed. Normal mints are great for insects at this time of year, but they are very unruly and need lots of maintenance.

I like golden leaved oregano for year round interest and edging. I've two kinds, one with round leaves, but no idea of names as they were both....err...acquired informally.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/89773/origanum-vulgare-aureum/details

Medz · 28 August 2020 at 2:07PM

Thanks everyone.

I gather there are specific plants that release their fragrance in the evening when their oils warmed by the sun cool down.

Could anyone give me some examples that I could choose to plant near seating.

Many thanks.

Grenage · 29 August 2020 at 1:38AM

Aye with everything above, including the path construction.

We have a creeping thyme lawn and while it's perfect for our needs, it is only fragrant when the weather is very hot and dry. Corsican mint is fantastic for aroma, but it never survives in my garden for long.

Medz · 29 August 2020 at 7:57AM

Grenage said:

Aye with everything above, including the path construction.

We have a creeping thyme lawn and while it's perfect for our needs, it is only fragrant when the weather is very hot and dry. Corsican mint is fantastic for aroma, but it never survives in my garden for long.

Hi there - what happens to it that means Corsican mint doesn’t survive in your garden long? Best wishes.

Davesnave · 29 August 2020 at 9:13AM

Medz said:

Thanks everyone.

I gather there are specific plants that release their fragrance in the evening when their oils warmed by the sun cool down. Could anyone give me some examples that I could choose to plant near seating.

Nicotiana: not the smaller ones.
https://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_/nicotiana-alata-grandiflora/classid.2000018836/