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Yarrow as a lawn edge.

madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
in Garden design
My 'Grazed Meadow Lawn' has not turned out quite as I had expected especially with the hot weather etc.(and I keep changing my mind!)
I had originally wanted to put a wildflower strip along the edge but what with the wind,parked cars and pedestrians as well as hot and dry I decided against it.The edge is also a slight slope and soil washes out easily.
Latest idea is to dig up a piece of the lawn about 1ft or so from the road kerb and plant up with Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) as a sort of edge.
I wouldn't be improving the soil so much as breaking it up (clay) and adding a bit of topsoil so as to allow the Achillea a bit of a head start.
What do you think?



“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    We have yarrow as a ‘lawn edge’ whether we want it or not ... we also have it as a ‘lawn middle’ 🤣 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
     :D 
    I know what you mean,and some people would think I'm mad to want to add it to my lawn!!
    Seen it around in various places where it has been left to grow and think it looks nice.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • jaffacakesjaffacakes Posts: 434
    It will probably set seed and take over the lawn. I have it everywhere too. Grass can really struggle with it.
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    My grass struggles anyway on that edge!!
    I see Yarrow in lawns round here and it never seems to take over.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    I have introduced yarrow as a lawn edge this summer. I hope it will from there spread further into the lawn, and mingle with the also present self-heal, clover, micro-clover and daisies. I've also spread some dove's foot geranium seeds around. Here in East Anglia the summers are dry, and I'm striving for a lawn that's green and buzzing with life. The yarrow took very well, in fact I've cut off the foliage for the first time a week ago. Hope I didn't kill it!
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    Sounds good!
    Do you have any photos?
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    @madpenguin I'll make/post some photos tomorrow ... in fact my lawn edge is between a line of stepping stones and the lawn. The planting on the stepping stone side of the yarrow is thyme, aceana, erodium, ground ivy, and other low-growing plants, the other side of the yarrow edge is lawn. The yarrow now looks a bit forlorn since being cut. It's all a big experiment that started a few months ago!
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    I have several sorts of plants in the lawn,not sure what has really survived the summer heat.Some things just disappear and others come back from the dead!
    All very exiting though and much more interesting than a mono culture lawn.
    Looking forward to the pictures.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited September 2019
    Emorsgate do a seed mix called EL2 Flowering Lawn which tolerates regular mowing (presumably less regular and on a higher setting than a standard lawn). That might be worth a look.  You could do plugs in the same species rather than seeding. I wouldn't improve the soil with topsoil, you'll be helping the grass more than the wildflowers. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543
    edited September 2019
    Just had a look at the Emorsgate mix and it looks like I have most of the plants in my lawn already.
    They need to get a move on!!
    If the weather had not been so hot and dry over the last 2 summers they might have taken hold better.
    Still I have next year to look forward too.
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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