Low border suggestions

Grandad99

Just removed overgrown conifers from this 18ftx3ft border. Stumps are a few inches high - would be more if the 3" of gravel was removed. Can't face the hassle/expense of this it so will work around it.

I would like to cover the whole area with some sort of low grass-like plant, putting the roots in the soil below the weedproof membrane.

Is this feasible and if so what would be a suitable plant?

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Grandad99

Hit "Post" too quickly!

Brie

I was going to suggest rosemary and lavender shrubs until I saw you wanted grass-like. But of course your choice will depend on what your local area would favour.

Again not grass but maybe heathers or hebes? nice to have something that gives a bit of colour at some point….

Brie

I'll merge this with the other post so as to not confuse people!

fatbelly

Not sure about the grass-like but low-growing I guess is what you want.

You could try chamomile which is scented but not much to look at, or ajuga which can have coloured leaves ('burgundy glow ') and short purple flower spikes in the early summer.

twopenny

If there were conifers there you need to improve the soil first. What is there is going to be sour and dry..

Rake off the gravel, dig out a foot of so of soil (sorry) and replace with some top soil. Doesn't have to be good stuff for what you want.

Because of the time of year you could get away with putting it on top with a little disturbance using a fork and leaving it exposed to the weather for the winter, then add some blood fish and bone and put membrane down in February, march and planting in.

Let the soil breathe and get thoroughly wet.

Lavender is good but needs cutting back a bit autumn and spring. Rosemary is good but will need trimming once or twice a year.

There are so many grasses that you need to research what appeals and how much care they need to keep them looking fresh. Not the easiest to keep looking nice.

GrubbyGirl_2

If you want something low growing and pretty look at beach aster. It also takes people walking on it and will spread really well so won't need many plants.

Dustyevsky

I don't know many 'grass like plants,' apart from Armeria, (Thrift) but even though it comes in 3 colours, that would be a large area to cover with it! No harm in having a few real grasses or sedges, though. Something like Carex 'Evergold' is cheerful all year.

It's a place which is going to experience the occasional vehicular transgression, so plants which become woody, like lavender might not be the perfect choice. Those which do a bit too well, like the larger Vinca, should definitely be avoided, along with self-seeders.(all those block paving gaps!) The soil will be impoverished, but plants which enjoy gravel gardens won't mind

I will be boring now and recommend Geranium 'Rozanne,' even though it will shrink away in winter. Evergreens like varieties of Helianthemums and a few herbs like Oregano could go with the Ajuga, mentioned above. Parahebe 'Porlock.' and some Teucrium chamaedrys would be further choices, and the Beach Aster, A maritima just mentioned is another very accommodating low-growing plant.

twopenny

I have nightmares about Beach Aster as my neighbour wouldn't cut back in decades!

Now that would probably grow without soil improvement. Erigeron the white daisy form crossed my mind. Both need no watering or feeding.

wort

I was going to say the same as Dusty, be very wary of self seeders much as Erigeron and grasses are pretty and don’t need a much nutrients they will seed all over that lovely block paving. His recommendation of low growing hebes would be nice. Do you need to “fence” with plants between the 2 drives? As any cutting back will need to access both sides. Woody stems may scratch cars that get too close.

Farway

How about ferns? Not the huge bracken type, but there are lots of smaller & more decorative ones, both for leaf shapes & colours.

If we have another drought like this year they may need a squirt of water now & then, as will most things you put in there