Plants for Pathways
March 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under Gardening Tips, General
Homes, apartment buildings, and schools have walkways surrounding the buildings, and these concrete paths need some beautifying! Even attractive paver stone pathways will look better when bordered by attractive blooms that complement their colors. But a major concern about plants for pathways is that they must be hardy, resilient, and tough. Think about it! These plants will get stepped on, rolled over by bicycles and perhaps wheel chairs, scooted through by dogs in pursuit of cats, and will generally take a beating. So not just any prima donna flower can survive and thrive in the tough world of pathway flower beds.
Long pathways look best lined by shorter flowers such as petunias and begonias. Trailing petunias are exceptional, in that they spread quickly and are especially durable. They are also available in a wide variety of colors, so you can match colors to fencing, pavers, or building. Annual flowers also offer a good choice for longer pathways. Marigolds are very strong and are available in several tones of yellow, gold, orange, and red. They also grow in a range of heights so you have the opportunity to use creativity to line your pathways. Other fantastic annual flowers that will serve you well along your pathways include Alyssum, Nicotiana and Snap dragon.
Ground cover plants offer another good choice for lining pathways, sidewalks, and heavily trafficked areas. Stonecrop, miniature rush, creeping wire, and blue star creeper are favorites of professional landscapers given the task of keeping something growing and flowering where bikes, feet, bouncing balls, animals, and other dangers lurk. Dianthus comes in several colors, including the award-winning Corona Cherry Magic Mix. These will endure what comes their way, and keep bouncing back to look beautiful yet another day. Blanket flowers are not quite as durable, but come in a rainbow of stunning colors and will provide special visual interest along sidewalks, pathways, and even driveways. Long-lasting and drought tolerant, they will look great with a minimal amount of care.
Resiliency and durability are not the only characteristics for great pathway plants. If you can find hardy plants that are offer a fragrant experience to the many that pass by them, it will certainly be appreciated. Lavender is an excellent example. Its gorgeous leaves and blooms, in robust plants reaching up to 2 feet high, form a wonderful outline to any path. Lavender, white, pink and purple blooms are available, and will deliver the goods all summer long.
Your pathway gardens will require extra attention and care, but choosing the right plants will keep them blooming and thriving when other plants would have given up the fight. Make sure that they have the moisture they need, plenty of compost in the soil for optimum health, and even some mulch which will protect their roots and stems.
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