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Ideas for lawn edging plants that mower can brush past ...

ukequusCI_vbFMYukequusCI_vbFMY Posts: 4
in Plants
Hello all, looking for ways to reduce the need for strimming lawn edges.  V lucky to have 0.75acre garden, but that’s a lot of edges!   Got a combination of sleepers, wood chip and just plain edges at the moment.  Would love mower strips but not practical, too big a project for now.  

I’m wondering about using plants on some the lawn/bed edges that would not mind being brushed by the mower as it goes past - alchemilla mollis comes to mind but I know it’s a bit of a thug.  Any other options you can think of?  Probably needs to grow 4-6 inches high so the mower can get underneath the foliage, iykwim. 

Thanks I’m advance for any ideas! 

Posts

  • BenjiBenji Posts: 10
    You could leave the grass to grow along the edges in a picture frame style. Good for insects, super easy to mow each time.  If you do it maybe 30 cm or so it would look designed rather than accidental. 
    Alternatively, I would maybe suggest lavender or sage.  My lavender and sage plants cover a messy edge very well and my mower slips under them without damaging them. 
  • FlyDragonFlyDragon Posts: 834
    I do this with hardy geraniums on my front lawn, they grow back quickly and are completely unbothered by getting a bit mowed around the edges!
  • ukequusCI_vbFMYukequusCI_vbFMY Posts: 4
    Thank you both, those are great ideas.  Sage and Hardy geraniums grow well here, have not had much luck with lavender, maybe because we’re on limestone it’s a bit too alkaline .. ?

    off to do some plant splitting 😀. Any other suggestions welcome too. 

  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    ukequusCI_vbFMY said:
    Hello all, looking for ways to reduce the need for strimming lawn edges.  V lucky to have 0.75acre garden, but that’s a lot of edges!   Got a combination of sleepers, wood chip and just plain edges at the moment.  Would love mower strips but not practical, too big a project for now.  

    I’m wondering about using plants on some the lawn/bed edges that would not mind being brushed by the mower as it goes past - alchemilla mollis comes to mind but I know it’s a bit of a thug.  Any other options you can think of?  Probably needs to grow 4-6 inches high so the mower can get underneath the foliage, iykwim. 

    Thanks I’m advance for any ideas! 
    I have alchemilla for exactly this purpose. I don't find it thuggish at all. It's easy to control and when it does start to spread i dig some up and pass it on to a local gardening charity.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    gjautos said:
    ukequusCI_vbFMY said:
    Hello all, looking for ways to reduce the need for strimming lawn edges.  V lucky to have 0.75acre garden, but that’s a lot of edges!   Got a combination of sleepers, wood chip and just plain edges at the moment.  Would love mower strips but not practical, too big a project for now.  

    I’m wondering about using plants on some the lawn/bed edges that would not mind being brushed by the mower as it goes past - alchemilla mollis comes to mind but I know it’s a bit of a thug.  Any other options you can think of?  Probably needs to grow 4-6 inches high so the mower can get underneath the foliage, iykwim. 

    Thanks I’m advance for any ideas! 
    I have alchemilla for exactly this purpose. I don't find it thuggish at all. It's easy to control and when it does start to spread i dig some up and pass it on to a local gardening charity.
    Totally agree ... wonderful plant ... I've never found it thuggish ... I wish it'd selfseed a bit more  :)

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





  • ukequusCI_vbFMYukequusCI_vbFMY Posts: 4
    Lol, perhaps its reputation has been exaggerated then!  I do rather like it. 
    Great advice, thank you 😊 
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