Friday, May 21, 2010

Which [possibly] scented low growing/creeping plants could you use to make a lawn that never needs to be cut?

are chamomile clover or daisy a possibility, or do these live symbiotically with grass....unable to grow as a monoculture?





thymes are scented, but they look straggly and grow too high.





would saxifrage work, or are the too delicate.





in all of the above..i am thinking of very minimal wear from shoes...as i would like to walk on it barefoot to relax, revitalise and be kind to my feet......after all theyve done for me !!

Which [possibly] scented low growing/creeping plants could you use to make a lawn that never needs to be cut?
I use clover ,blue daze and thyme as a lawn alternative.


they all feel great on the feet and have different textures.
Reply:creeping thymes would work, but would need really good drainage.
Reply:Hello again - try a look at this website: %26lt;www.camomilelawns.co.uk%26gt;
Reply:The swan river daisy would work alright as it also comes in various colours. Liriope muscari is worth a look to as it is a clumping plant although not very tall and is fantastically lush ,green and soft to lie amongst. a mixture of both of these would give great contrast in height colour and texture and would look fantastic.
Reply:Thyme,peppermint royal,lemon thyme, cammomile.
Reply:Yes, reconsider creeping Thyme.


One of the shortest is named, "Elfin."


http://mountainvalleygrowers.com/groundc...


Pink Chintz Thyme and Mint Thyme are close on the heels of Elfin with similar color and woolly texture but spreading out further.


http://mountainvalleygrowers.com/thyprae...


Spicy Orange thyme, creeping lemon thyme and Caraway thyme all bear pink blooms and stay short ...4" or less.





There are other "flavors" of creeping thyme, including lime, oregano, lavender and coconut. Some types bear variegated foliage.





As your feet brush against the thyme, its fragrance will be released! The Elizabethan writer, Francis Bacon had this fact in mind when he refers to thyme in his essay, Of Gardens. In listing desirable plants, Bacon mentions:





"[T]hose which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is, burnet, wild-thyme, and watermints. Therefore you are to set whole alleys of them, to have the pleasure when you walk or tread."


http://landscaping.about.com/od/herbplan...





Also consider Bacon's other two suggestions mints %26amp; burnet.


Here's a picture of burnet as ground cover:


http://www.io.com/~wilsone/perennialbord...





Corsican mint (M. requienii). Grows only half an inch tall %26amp; has small, purple flowers. "makes a wonderful ground cover in sun or partial shade for gardeners with ample water. It releases a minty or sage-like fragrance when pressed or stepped on and was a favorite cover for garden benches in medieval gardens". This mint is used as the flavoring in creme de menthe.


http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articl...


http://www.newsobserver.com/387/story/17...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha_requ...





Clover can grow by itself. The only reason people would mix grass %26amp; clover together is that grass stands up to heavy foot traffic better.


Clover doesn't require fertilizing, as does lawn grass, %26amp; it has the ability to aerate the soil, thus reducing concerns over soil compaction. It has longer roots, enabling it to access water at deeper levels.


http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lawns/a/...


Be aware that clover attracts bees %26amp; deer.





Good Luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:Here is another picture and how to grow:


http://www.turfshop.co.uk/ct.php
Reply:I think Creeping Thyme would work well for you. You are probably thinking of one of the other thymes that are taller. There are quite a few varieties, but Creeping Thyme will stay low.





Another advantage to this plant is that it is very drought tolerant. It does not need much water. I have some in a garden area that is pretty far away from the house and not easy to water. With much neglect during a drought here, it is doing great.





Susan


http://www.landscape-design-advice.com/l...


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