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What to plant in a narrow, gravel-filled trench.

MistwalkerMistwalker Posts: 65
in Plants
As you can see in the picture, I have a long gravel-filled gap between slabs on one side and a concrete floor on the other. This gap is about 4 inches wide and is filled with 20 mm gravel and dirt that's collected over time. This area is in full sun most of the day. It's absolute heaven for weeds.

I'm considering trying to grow Creeping Thyme in it as it's good low ground cover and can apparently withstand being stepped on occasionally. Do you guys think this would be a good idea or do you have better suggestions?

Thanks in advance.




Posts

  • SuesynSuesyn Posts: 664
    This is the narrow trench between our drive and the wallof the house. The soil is really rubbish and it gets very little water and as we live in an old house with hardly any foundations and no damp course it never gets watered. Most of the plants could be loosely classed as alpine plants but at the far end where the trench is a little wider (about 25/30cm) there are bearded iris which it suits very well.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Alternatively you could just remove the gravel and infill with more of the grey bricks  ;)
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • AlliumPurpleSensationAlliumPurpleSensation Posts: 270
    edited May 2018
    This is what I have done, lots of glorious smelling herbs. This is next to a patio that is a cement base and really poor drainage so I dug out the rubbish that was there and put the herbs into about an inch of soil, covered in fish tank gravel as wanted something really small.  If I’m honest can’t believe they’ve continued to grow but they are doing really well and now plan to carry on doing the same around the rest of the patio edge as it’s also helping with the run off when I attempt to clean the patio :)


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In addition to those mentioned, another good plant is Cerastium [snow in summer] which will tolerate drought and poor soil. The little alpine Phloxes are similar - happy in nothing with plenty of sun. Arabis will also do well. I have all three of those in what is basically a window box on my back fence. They get no attention, and there's very little soil for them to survive in, but they thrive. Aubretias would also be happy in those conditions.
    You could also sow nasturtiums for summer/autumn colour. They live on fresh air   :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • josine2302josine2302 Posts: 68
    Roman Camomile, it spreads nicely, doesn’t in the least mind an occasional footstep on it and smells heavenly..
  • MistwalkerMistwalker Posts: 65
    Wow. Thanks for all the really helpful suggestions. Lots to consider there. I'll be doing some research (Googling), tomorrow on all the plants you've suggested. Time for some experimentation, methinks.

    Thanks again, everyone. :)

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