Pathways
Long flowering season. This might seem obvious but is easily overlooked and especially important if you want to plant en masse. If your plant of choice is a one-trick pony, you want it to be a showstopper! Look for plants that are easy to care for but produce flowers for at least two seasons or bloom repeatedly.
Tactile plants. Along with fragrant plants, as mentioned above, ones that are soft or interesting to touch add much to your garden experience. I know that I can’t help touching plants positioned at knee or hip height that look soft and inviting. Tactile gardens are wonderful for children, too, as they help kids gain a greater appreciation for gardens and the individual characteristics of different plants. The wooden walkway pictured here shows an amazing use of fountain grass, which has created a surreal space that looks soft and dreamy.
Hardiness to drought and heavy traffic. Paths can become hot, dry zones in the garden due to reflected heat. Keep this in mind if you live in a hot climate. If your path is likely to experience heavy traffic from time to time, you would be wise to ensure that plants located on the very edge of the path can stand up to moments of careless trampling. Tip: A nice idea is to use tough ground covers with aromatic foliage between stepping stones or flagstone pavers. The fragrance is released when the plants are stepped on. Look at plants such as low-creeping thyme, Pratia pedunculata or Corsican mint (Mentha requienii).
Fragrance. Few things are lovelier than catching the aroma of some beautifully fragrant flowers while walking down a path. Sweetly perfumed flowering plants can give you a sensory connection with the garden that can last a lifetime. If you are sensitive to strong perfumes, you can still enjoy this sensation; just choose plants with aromas that suit your nose. And don’t limit yourself to fragrant flowers when there are so many plants that release delicious scents when you brush against their foliage. Consider plants such as mintbush (Prostanthera ovalifolia), scented-leaf geranium (Pelargonium domesticum) in scents of lemon, rose and mint, or the amazing lavenders, which pack a double punch for having fragrant flowers and foliage.
Using the wrong types of plants could make a pathway awkward to use and result in a very high-maintenance garden. It’s best to look for the following characteristics. Low and compact growth. Anything too tall or leggy can inhibit movement along the path and restrict visibility to the path ahead or garden beyond. Taller and more architecturally interesting plants can be used farther back in the bed, away from the path, to create height and foliage contrast. Graduating the height of shrubs and perennials will also make the area appear to be wider than it is. Lack of spikes and thorns. There is nothing worse than getting scratched or snagged by a plant while walking down a path. Spiky plants are great for little birds but usually best kept away from walkways and driveways to avoid injury. Tip: I like using flower carpet roses en masse in border beds due to their reliable, long-flowering habit, but they might need to be edged with another plant, such as lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina, shown here opposite a border of lavender), to help create a barrier along the path to reduce the risk of harm. Regular maintenance would also be effective, as would a generously wide walkway.
Revamp your side yard. Often a neglected area of gardens, side yards can be transformed into beautiful winding walkways, private seating areas or — if you have enough sun — areas for growing veggies and herbs. You can get started right away in mild climates by planting, clearing the space and installing new walkways or features like arbors. In snowy climates, bookmark ideas for your side yard now and wait until the ground warms up to start digging.
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