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Plants To Walk On
Large areas of hard surface such as paths
and patios can be boring.The flat surface and
hard edges stand out in a garden.Their looks
are improved when broken up and softened.
Creepy-crawly plants, which spread like honey
on hot toast, are the answer. They can, however,
bring their own problems. If they form a rigid
branch system you will trip over them. Some
grow too high, becoming obstacles. If they are
not tough, walking on them will destroy the
foliage, prevent flowering or cause them to
be trampled to death. Prostrate spreaders are
usually able to survive in poor conditions being
happy to grow in cracks filled with a free draining,
impoverished, gritty soil.
Thyme is a great survivor. It can tolerate being
walked on,releasing its wonderful fragrance
from the crushed leaves. There is a range of
leaf colours including golden, variegated and
shades of green.Flower colour may vary from
pale pink to deep purple.
Mind your own business is a lovely
common name for Soleirolia soleirolii which
used to be called Helxine. Mat forming, this
perennial will spread far and wide with tiny,
pale green leaves and pink tinged,white flowers
in summer.
It can take a heavy pounding and still bounce
back as lively as ever.
Cotoneaster procumbens is evergreen with white
flowers in summer followed by bright red berries.
It will form a low mound 4 inches high spreading
to cover 2 square yards. Great for softening
the edge of the patio it may be a nuisance if
it is allowed to encroach onto the main walking
area. Rosette forming sedums and saxifrage will
tolerate some abuse but will curl up and die
if they havent time to recover between
attacks.
Some campanulas, such as C.raineri, are useful.
It will only grow to 2 inches high with a spread
of 8-10 inches. This perennial spreads by underground
runners, smothering itself in bell-shaped, pale
lavender flowers in summer. Once established
it is difficult to kill, reappearing even if
the foliage has been tramped off.
Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) may be used instead
of grass to form a lawn. When walked on it exudes
a wonderful fragrance. It enjoys growing in
well drained soil in cracks in the patio.The
best non- flowering variety is C.n.Treneague
forming a mat 18 inches wide and 4 inches high.
It is not a tough plant and should be planted
away from the main traffic. Dont be tempted
to feed this type of planting. They will be
tougher and more resilent if they have to fight.
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