Ground cover toughest, flattest?

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 1:40:51 PM6/14/13

to

I need to cover a short area -- a path leading from the lawn to a gate which is very rarely used. There is a small area to the R. of the path, up against a neighbor fence.

After debating the up & down sides of DG and pebbles, I am not satisfied with either.

Can anybody suggest a ground cover that lies really, really flat and is very tough. The aesthetics are sort of important, but the practicalities over-ride.

This is So. Calif coastal.

TIA

HB

Brooklyn1

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 2:13:32 PM6/14/13

to

Flagstone is attractive and requires no maintenence. Pebbles/gravel
is ugly, screams CHEAP, and you'll forever be retrieving migrating
stones.

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 4:47:30 PM6/14/13

to

Yes, been there, done that on another path.

Flagstone very tempting but expensive for a small, out-of-the-way area rarely used.

Was also thinking round (or preferably hexagonal) stepping stones, but have to deal with area in between and around. I know there exist plants sold specifically to fill the cracks between stepping/flagstones. First need to check if local place has broken pieces cheaper.

Tx for suggestion.

HB

Jeff Layman

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 5:19:19 PM6/14/13

to

Bit puzzled why it needs to be very tough if it is very rarely used.

I don't know if it is called the same thing in the USA but what about
wooden decking?

--

Jeff

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 6:12:22 PM6/14/13

to

Needs to be "tough" because I don't want to be bothered watering & mowing.
I just want it to stay down there and keep the mud/dirt under control.

Area much too small for wooden decking, but thanx for suggestion.

Am zig-zagging back & forth in my so-called mind. As mentioned earlier, considering pieces of broken flagstone (if local place has them) with those tiny plants used in interstices of flagstones/pavers, etc.

Will look on-line for those "tiny plants", but if any come to mind, would appreciate the URL.

TIA

HB

>
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Jeff

Patty Winter

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 8:12:23 PM6/14/13

to

In article <99f3f48f-c4aa-4d9f...@googlegroups.com>,

Higgs Boson <hypa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>I need to cover a short area -- a path leading from the lawn to a gate
>which is very rarely used. There is a small area to the R. of the path,
>up against a neighbor fence.
>
>After debating the up & down sides of DG and pebbles, I am not satisfied
>with either.

So you're looking for non-plant material? If you end up with
spaces between stones or some such, you might consider wooly
thyme. It's very low to the ground, has cute pink flowers, and
can take some foot traffic.

Patty

David E. Ross

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 8:14:50 PM6/14/13

to

Cinquefoil (Potentilla neumanniana, also known as P. verna).

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
<http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

Dan Espen

unread,

Jun 14, 2013, 8:27:13 PM6/14/13

to

Don't know what grows there.
Here in NJ we'd plant Pachysandra (about 6") or
Vinca (about 4").

They keep most other plants out without any work to speak of.

--
Dan Espen

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 4:39:53 AM6/15/13

to

> Thanks to all for suggestions. Thyme is recommended on many Web sites. I will also look at cinquefoil. Dan, the ones you suggested are too tall; I need something really, really flat, but thanks a bunch.

HB

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 4:43:04 AM6/15/13

to

> Sorry, I wasn't clear. I'm NOT looking for "non-plant" material. Thyme sounds good.

HB
>
>
>

Dan Espen

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 10:57:00 AM6/15/13

to

Moss,

--
Dan Espen

Brooklyn1

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 11:48:03 AM6/15/13

to

Higgs Boson writes:
>
>I need to cover a short area -- a path leading from the lawn to a gate
>which is very rarely used. There is a small area to the R. of the
>path, up against a neighbor fence.

Without knowing the square footage no one can offer more than wild
speculation... "short" and "small" are meaningless drivel.

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 6:20:45 PM6/15/13

to

Yo, Brooklyn, ease off with the "meaningless drivel" <g>.

I went to our nabe stone yard today and was glad to see that they have broken flagstone for reasonable $. I am going to draw a map for the sales person; in the process I will have square footage for thee.

Now have a nice Father's Day (if applicable).

HB

Brooklyn1

unread,

Jun 15, 2013, 9:31:21 PM6/15/13

to

On Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:20:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
<hypa...@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Saturday, June 15, 2013 8:48:03 AM UTC-7, Brooklyn1 wrote:
>> Higgs Boson writes:
>>
>> >
>>
>> >I need to cover a short area -- a path leading from the lawn to a gate
>>
>> >which is very rarely used. There is a small area to the R. of the
>> >path, up against a neighbor fence.
>>
>> Without knowing the square footage no one can offer more than wild
>> speculation... "short" and "small" are meaningless drivel.
>
>Yo, Brooklyn, ease off with the "meaningless drivel" <g>.
>
>I went to our nabe stone yard today and was glad to see that they have broken flagstone for reasonable $.

I knew flagstone was reasonably priced when I originally suggested
it... and it needn't be fancy schmancy stone for a rarely used path...
and all flagstone is broken, that's what flagstone is, only some
idiots decided it looks better diamond sawed all the same size/shape.
I think flagstone looks nicer in its natural state, random
configuration.
http://geology.about.com/od/mineral_resources/tp/Where-Rock-Materials-Come-From.htm

Higgs Boson

unread,

Jun 16, 2013, 8:52:50 PM6/16/13

to

Great site, thanks! I think the broken flagstone is going to be my solution.
I just hope, at $20/SF, it doesn't add up too much. The lady that showed me to the stuff reminded me to have the yard guy pick out nice pieces. Rather than just measure, I'll print out a pic on my color printer and show to yard guy.

Now to price creeping Thyme or similar.<g>

HB