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Planting advice for narrow troughs on driveway path

Jamie 4Jamie 4 Posts: 7
in Plants
Hi, hope someone can give me a few ideas, we have an Indian stone path with 2 very narrow troughs built into it, there is no drainage but for the past few years they have had lavenders happily growing inside there very small pots until they got too big and had to be taken out.

As there are dogs and cats in the area they are currently enjoying the comfortable bark! Any suggestions for something that doesn't need much attention, will grow in poor, shallow soil ? or is back to yet another round of lavender (which I do really like by the way but after 18 months there just too big)

Apologies the pic is before it got weeded, jetwashed, repointed & sealed! It looks half decent now but that just makes the bare bark look even worse.


Posts

  • ForTheBeesForTheBees Posts: 168
    If there's no drainage do they not fill with rain?

    Creeping thyme . Will take a bit of footfall abuse and will smell nice doing so.

    Mexican fleabane.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    edited June 2019
    I would fill it with something very simple like London Pride. Neat and tidy, does well in most situations, shallow rooted etc etc and pretty pink flowers for a long time. Will never grow too big for its boots. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,498
    Sedums,Sempervivums (houseleeks) and other succulents.
    Make sure that it is well drained as they don't like soggy feet,adding grit etc can help.
    Alchemilla also comes to mind.
    Loads of possibilities!!
    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,154
    If there's no drainage surely they get sodden in heavy rain and freeze in winter?  Not conducive to long term plant health then as anything that can grow happily in such a confined space won't like being drowned or frozen.

    I would empty them out and fill with decorative stones and smooth pebbles which will not create dust that weedlings will grow in.   Failing that, hardy alpines, dwarf phlox and the plants suggested above.  You don't want anything tall that will get in the way of legs and trousers getting in and out of cars on wet days.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    If lavenders have been fine all this time, then the rest of the suggestions would be fine. Maybe the water has just been leaking away. Lavenders again would be fine if you like lavender. Sedum Atlantis has got lots of recent attention. Fairly bullet-proof. It depends on the height you are looking for.
  • Jamie 4Jamie 4 Posts: 7
    It's a wide drive so stones will make it look as bare as bark, no actual drainage but I guess it just drains down the slope or the lavender soaked it up, never had an issue but then again never needed to water the lavender! Thanks for the suggestiond
  • dappledshadedappledshade Posts: 982
    Erigeron? Grows just about anywhere. I'd second sedums and creeping thymes, so long as it drains well and you've added some grit. Black grass (ophiopogon nigrescens) interspersed here and there could look good too. Some hardy geraniums, small versions!
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