Border Protection: What to Plant Along Pathways
The right plant choices can not only frame your pathway with distinction, they can also take you on a journey of the senses
Garden borders and pathway plantings provide the edges of a garden – their very existence creates a visual and functional definition between the garden and a path, driveway or lawn. When planning pathway and border planting schemes the choice is immense and, of course, much will depend on the surrounding architectural and garden style in terms of what plants to use and how to use them. However, as with most design fundamentals, there are some key factors you might want to consider before going ahead.
With careful planning, your borders could be transformed from ordinary utilitarian thoroughfares to visually dynamic spaces that can make a statement and excite the senses. So here’s what to think about before planting along a pathway…
With careful planning, your borders could be transformed from ordinary utilitarian thoroughfares to visually dynamic spaces that can make a statement and excite the senses. So here’s what to think about before planting along a pathway…
Fragrance and aromatics
There are few things lovelier than catching the aroma of some beautifully fragrant flowers while walking down a path. By using sweetly perfumed flowering plants you will generate a sensory connection with the garden that may last for a lifetime. If you are sensitive to strong perfumes you can still enjoy this sensation, just be more discerning to suit your nose.
Why limit yourself to fragrant flowers only when there are so many plants with deliciously aromatic foliage. Pathways bordered with aromatic foliage can be casually brushed against to release wonderful scents. Consider plants such as mintbush (Prostanthera ovalifolia), scented-leaf geranium (Pelargonium domesticum) in lemon, rose and mint, or the amazing lavenders which pack a double punch for having fragrant flowers and foliage.
There are few things lovelier than catching the aroma of some beautifully fragrant flowers while walking down a path. By using sweetly perfumed flowering plants you will generate a sensory connection with the garden that may last for a lifetime. If you are sensitive to strong perfumes you can still enjoy this sensation, just be more discerning to suit your nose.
Why limit yourself to fragrant flowers only when there are so many plants with deliciously aromatic foliage. Pathways bordered with aromatic foliage can be casually brushed against to release wonderful scents. Consider plants such as mintbush (Prostanthera ovalifolia), scented-leaf geranium (Pelargonium domesticum) in lemon, rose and mint, or the amazing lavenders which pack a double punch for having fragrant flowers and foliage.
Hardy to drought and heavy traffic
Paths can become hot, dry zones in the garden due to reflected heat. Depending on your climate, this could be something to keep in mind when selecting plants.
If your path is likely to carry heavy traffic from time to time, you would be wise to ensure that plants located on the very edge of the path are fairly hardy to moments of careless trampling.
MY TOP TIP: A nice idea is to use hardy ground covers with aromatic foliage in between stepping stones or flagstone paving. The fragrance is released when the plants are stepped on. Look at plants such as low-creeping Thymus, Pratia pedunculata or Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii).
Paths can become hot, dry zones in the garden due to reflected heat. Depending on your climate, this could be something to keep in mind when selecting plants.
If your path is likely to carry heavy traffic from time to time, you would be wise to ensure that plants located on the very edge of the path are fairly hardy to moments of careless trampling.
MY TOP TIP: A nice idea is to use hardy ground covers with aromatic foliage in between stepping stones or flagstone paving. The fragrance is released when the plants are stepped on. Look at plants such as low-creeping Thymus, Pratia pedunculata or Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii).
Tactile plants
Along with fragrant gardens as mentioned above, by using plants that are soft or interesting to touch you will generate a pleasant tactile awareness of the garden. I know that I can’t help touching plants positioned at knee/hip height that look soft and inviting.
The wooden walkway pictured here shows an amazing use of fountain grass, which has created a surreal space that looks so soft and dreamy, and yet it would be a very hardy plant to use in a variety of climates.
MY TOP TIP: Tactile gardens are wonderful for children, too, as it helps them to gain a greater appreciation for gardens and the individual characteristics of different plants.
Along with fragrant gardens as mentioned above, by using plants that are soft or interesting to touch you will generate a pleasant tactile awareness of the garden. I know that I can’t help touching plants positioned at knee/hip height that look soft and inviting.
The wooden walkway pictured here shows an amazing use of fountain grass, which has created a surreal space that looks so soft and dreamy, and yet it would be a very hardy plant to use in a variety of climates.
MY TOP TIP: Tactile gardens are wonderful for children, too, as it helps them to gain a greater appreciation for gardens and the individual characteristics of different plants.
Long-flowering season
This might seem obvious but is easily overlooked and especially important if you want to mass plant. If your plant of choice is a one trick pony you want it to be a show stopper!
Look for plants that are easy to care for but produce flowers for at least two seasons or repeat/spot flower continuously.
Some plants to consider are the following.
This might seem obvious but is easily overlooked and especially important if you want to mass plant. If your plant of choice is a one trick pony you want it to be a show stopper!
Look for plants that are easy to care for but produce flowers for at least two seasons or repeat/spot flower continuously.
Some plants to consider are the following.
- Federation Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens)
- Wallflowers such as Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
- Zonal geraniums
- Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer’
- Bedding plants such as Fuchsia ‘Voodoo’
- Seaside daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)
STYLE
One of your first considerations should also be what style to work towards.
Formal
If the rest of the house and garden is formal and classically styled then your pathway needs to match with neat structured lines and a balanced planting scheme.
This formal garden perfectly illustrates how the strong bold lines generated by a low hedge create symmetry. If this is your style, it can be relatively easy to create a wonderful effect, but be sure to use plants suitable to the location.
Once established, this sort of garden can be fairly low maintenance and also allows for creative perennial plantings behind the hedge to ebb and flow without looking messy.
NOTE ON HEDGES: The use of hedges does not have to be confined to formal gardens. Low-clipped hedges are useful for containing the unstructured and more natural plantings of all design styles from falling into paths.
The next photo shows that not all hedges are created equal. The beautifully sculpted Buxus balls look great all year round, providing an interesting and evergreen garden border.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Formal
One of your first considerations should also be what style to work towards.
Formal
If the rest of the house and garden is formal and classically styled then your pathway needs to match with neat structured lines and a balanced planting scheme.
This formal garden perfectly illustrates how the strong bold lines generated by a low hedge create symmetry. If this is your style, it can be relatively easy to create a wonderful effect, but be sure to use plants suitable to the location.
Once established, this sort of garden can be fairly low maintenance and also allows for creative perennial plantings behind the hedge to ebb and flow without looking messy.
NOTE ON HEDGES: The use of hedges does not have to be confined to formal gardens. Low-clipped hedges are useful for containing the unstructured and more natural plantings of all design styles from falling into paths.
The next photo shows that not all hedges are created equal. The beautifully sculpted Buxus balls look great all year round, providing an interesting and evergreen garden border.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Formal
Informal styles
If your garden style is less formal and relaxed it may actually take slightly more planning than the former. These are plantings that imitate nature with drifts of plants, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, annuals and herbs alike. They will constantly reward with amazing seasonal displays and endless creative opportunities.
These types of gardens can be faster to establish but may require more maintenance and a deeper understanding of gardening in general.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
If your garden style is less formal and relaxed it may actually take slightly more planning than the former. These are plantings that imitate nature with drifts of plants, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, annuals and herbs alike. They will constantly reward with amazing seasonal displays and endless creative opportunities.
These types of gardens can be faster to establish but may require more maintenance and a deeper understanding of gardening in general.
More: So Your Garden Style Is: Natural
MY TOP TIP: Don’t be restricted to the old-fashioned idea that borders only contain perennials. Try using a variety of native plants, shrubs (deciduous and evergreen) as well as grasses for easy-care sections, bold shapes and colours, and year-round interest.
HERBS
Edible plants and herbs are also great to use for paths borders. Not only do they look good but you can easily access them for culinary creations on your way through.
FOLIAGE VARIETY
Foliage-rich borders look amazing and will give contrast and variety at all times. Don’t be afraid to choose plants for foliage alone – large leaves planted next to fine, small leaves, or bold reds and variegated foliage will provide texture and light in your garden. I often think of these plants as the stalwarts of any garden.
I couldn’t possibly advise all the viable plant choices available but I will say, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Your pathway leads a person from point to point and it should be inviting or enticing and hopefully say something about the destination. Enjoy!
YOUR SAY
Which plants have you found work well along pathways and garden edges? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Dream Spaces: Discover a Secret Garden of Your Own
Ground Force: Top 10 Ground Covers for Your Garden
Leafy Greens: 10 Ways to Beautify Your Garden With Foliage
HERBS
Edible plants and herbs are also great to use for paths borders. Not only do they look good but you can easily access them for culinary creations on your way through.
FOLIAGE VARIETY
Foliage-rich borders look amazing and will give contrast and variety at all times. Don’t be afraid to choose plants for foliage alone – large leaves planted next to fine, small leaves, or bold reds and variegated foliage will provide texture and light in your garden. I often think of these plants as the stalwarts of any garden.
I couldn’t possibly advise all the viable plant choices available but I will say, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Your pathway leads a person from point to point and it should be inviting or enticing and hopefully say something about the destination. Enjoy!
YOUR SAY
Which plants have you found work well along pathways and garden edges? Share your ideas in the comments section.
MORE
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Dream Spaces: Discover a Secret Garden of Your Own
Ground Force: Top 10 Ground Covers for Your Garden
Leafy Greens: 10 Ways to Beautify Your Garden With Foliage
One of the main factors to consider are the actual characteristics of the plants you may use. This is important because 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 further 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.
Nothing spiky or thorny
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.
MY TOP 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) 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.