plants for cracks in the path

James · Post by **James** » 11 Feb 2008, 21:54

Hello

we have cement path a patio with a fair few cracks. they fill up with soil and the weeds get going very quickly.

i have bought Alyssum, a white flowered plants that can apparently survive in cracks in a path.

does anyone have any recommendations for other similar flowers that could do the same?

Thanks a lot

AnnaB · Post by **AnnaB** » 11 Feb 2008, 23:14

Hi James

What immediately came to mind was weeds??? joking aside
Alyssum is OK in cracks also Aubrieta which is very colourful and pretty. Ajuga is also good and grows anywhere. In fact most rockery plants will grow in small amounts of soil and gravel.

chucky egg · Post by **chucky egg** » 12 Feb 2008, 14:13

What about Thyme? I'd heard certain srains were hardy and were great for cracks in walls et al?

James · Post by **James** » 12 Feb 2008, 21:51

ok thanks for the ideas. I will have a go at sowing something in the spring.

last year all the cracks filled up fast with weeds, so putting something else in first has to be a good idea.

Post by Mo » 13 Feb 2008, 13:44

If you sow direct into the crakc it might be an idea to sow a few spares in a seed tray, so that if you get a mix germinating and have to weed them out you've got an established plant to pop in instead. Depends how big the cracks are I suppose.

chucky egg · Post by **chucky egg** » 13 Feb 2008, 15:07

Mo - that's forward thinking that is!

lancashire lass · Post by **lancashire lass** » 13 Feb 2008, 16:22

what about chamomile - like a "lawn", wouldn't you get a lovely smell as you walked on it? I don't know how tall it grows - its just something you might see in some garden design idea ^b:

AnnaB · Post by **AnnaB** » 13 Feb 2008, 20:17

James
Aubrieta if sown from seed will take two seasons to flower.

TassieDev · Post by **TassieDev** » 14 Feb 2008, 14:56

i love alyssum cos the flowers smell so sweet and it grows like a weed! (at least in our area, it just self sows for ever and easily outcompetes the weeds)

Post by Mo » 15 Feb 2008, 09:10

Is that the yellow sort or the white?

James · Post by **James** » 18 Feb 2008, 20:00

I bought the white sort of Alyssum. I will try all of these ideas and let you know how they get on, and what I can get to work.

Will put up a picture of the path in July.

thanks again

maderedundant · Post by **maderedundant** » 21 Feb 2008, 16:42

I used to have a herb known as pennyroyal growing in the cracks in my slabs. As a member of the mint family there was a fantastic smell everytime it was stepped on.
It is supposed to be an ant repellant as well but I don't think the ants knew that, I still had loads.
Now I get a lot of wild strawberries growing there but I have to get them before the birds eat them or the cats p** on them.

Paul