What to do with unused grass path/strip between plots

[polc1410]

Chap next to me has an immaculate plot. (I have a plot ;-) )
Between us is a path typical sort of path width - wheelbarrow width.
Neither of us use this path because we have paths up the middle of the plots. So really its a no-mans land.

It has rough course grass growing on it. If this is left it goes to seed and then blows across the plots. Its had nettles in it too in the past.

Neither of us have any great use for the land - our beds run to its edge so we'd need to enlarge already edged beds to gain a tiny amount of space when we are already not short of space.

I've strimmed it the last few years (it doesn't look flat enough to mow with a mower.) I think I've got rid of most of the nettles. Strimming doesn't really work - you either have to strim it weekly to try and keep it 2cm length and looking tidy... ...er note I said "I have a plot" so that's not going to happen. Or I strim it when I realise its getting close to going to seed! Which means loads of grass strimmings get scattered everywhere >> including the neighbours plot.

SO I was wondering what might be good to grow there? Criteria:

- Low maintenance
- Can compete with the grass / weeds to keep them in check
- Looks tidy rather than unkempt
- Maybe flowering or something to attract bees??
- Ideally something "perennial" as in - I won't need to plant it again next year and the year after... ...a self seeder might work - but I don't want it seeding all over the two plots.

So come on grapes... ...lets be having your suggestions...

[Jungle Jane]

Would lavender be right for the spot? Perennial & easy to manage if you give it a trim after flowering

[Thelma Sanders]

On our site the grass paths have to stay where they are - they are access paths whether we choose to use them or not.
It's also in our tenant's agreement that the plot holder is responsible for keeping them 'clear and the grass trimmed'.

Do you have any site rules about the path?

[sparrow100]

Clover? It's low and bees like the flowers. Can you work out a rota with your neighbour so you're not doing al of it?

We can't do anything to the paths around plots on our site, but we're each responsible for keeping them tidy.

[Bigmallly]

Remove the turf, cover in woodchip & plant through it.

[treepixie]

How about some wildflower seeds? That would look nice and also attract the bees

[johnjohn]

A carpet of campanula would look stunning. Good ground cover so suppresses weeds, longish flowering period May to end August possibly September depending on the year, low maintenance.

[alldigging]

Do you have any site rules about the path?

This. And then mow the path if it has to stay and it'll never be a problem again (Apart from the effort of mowing it but you could take it in turns. Someone used to have a little push mower for paths on our site.

[Snadger]

Camomile and lemon thyme. Low growing, and fragrant to walk on.

[polc1410]

Wow thanks guys been out for the morning while you guys have been working on my allotment;-)

Would lavender be right for the spot?

Thought has crossed my mind. I guess I could grow it from seed and so get plenty of plants to get coverage in. If it gets too bushy it will block next door's light and I'm not trying to cause upset.

On our site the grass paths have to stay where they are - they are access paths whether we choose to use them or not.
It's also in our tenant's agreement that the plot holder is responsible for keeping them 'clear and the grass trimmed'.

Do you have any site rules about the path?

Rules are for loosers!
In all seriousness our tenancy agreement / rules are quite light in detail (no mention of paths) and even those that do exist are widely ignored (no strawberries! Aye right)

Clover? It's low and bees like the flowers. Can you work out a rota with your neighbour so you're not doing al of it?

He seems unfussed about it. His health has been getting worse over the last 3 years so I'm not sure it would be fair to get him doing it.

We have no central mower etc. The main path /access road is mowed by someone for a fee I believe. I have a strimmer but no petrol or push mower. Strimmer is quite heavy as petrol not sure he would manage to use it.

We can't do anything to the paths around plots on our site, but we're each responsible for keeping them tidy.

Most don't have a path. Certainly the other side of us doesn't.

Remove the turf, cover in woodchip & plant through it.

Turf is a very affectionate term. It makes me think of Wimbledon!
I'd suspect it would be easier to apply 3 layers of cardboard, woodchip and plant through.
But as we don't get free woodchip the cost will be high as it must be 15m of path x 70cm.

How about some wildflower seeds? That would look nice and also attract the bees

Yip thats kinda what I'm looking for, but something that wont effectively behave as a weed.

A carpet of campanula would look stunning. Good ground cover so suppresses weeds, longish flowering period May to end August possibly September depending on the year, low maintenance.

Interesting. My 6 year old told me he wanted to grow some blue and red plants this year. While out today I picked up a multi-pack of 6 seeds that were blues, reds and purples. One of those is campanula. Never heard of it before.

When it goes to seed is it going to behave like a weed?

The particular ones in the pack describe themselves as bienniel - but google tells me there are annual and perenniel strains too. Plus some alpine versions etc.

This. And then mow the path if it has to stay and it'll never be a problem again (Apart from the effort of mowing it but you could take it in turns. Someone used to have a little push mower for paths on our site.

Path is the wrong description. Verge may be better. I doubt wheels on a mower will handle it.

Camomile and lemon thyme. Low growing, and fragrant to walk on.

Same question as the campanula - will it become a weed?

So if I do this with one of these - one species - remaining as a strip like the current path, indeed that could still be walked on occasionally with some of these options.? Or multiple species of flowers?

[DannyK]

Which campanula is it? Some tall, some short.

[polc1410]

It is Campanula Medium. Looks like its 60cm tall which seems quite tall to me...

[johnjohn]

Wow thanks guys been out for the morning while you guys have been working on my allotment;-)
Same question as the campanula - will it become a weed?

So if I do this with one of these - one species - remaining as a strip like the current path, indeed that could still be walked on occasionally with some of these options.? Or multiple species of flowers?

Which campanula is it? Some tall, some short.

It is Campanula Medium. Looks like its 60cm tall which seems quite tall to me...

Theres several low growing perenial varieties. You want something like Campanula Carpatica which is about 25cm. There are lower varieties like Portenschlagiana but I think it's more vigorous and might over seed into your beds. I wouldn't see this as a problem as they would be easy to manage- others would.

I think if I was doing this I would avoid walking on it, you indicated you had alternative access. If this is a problem then Snadgers idea of camomile would be ideal but less of a feature. I have always wanted an area of camomile lawn.

[DannyK]

It is Campanula Medium. Looks like its 60cm tall which seems quite tall to me...

Could go over 1m!

[polc1410]

OK so will keep the "medium" for the wee man's beds!

Will hunt out some of this 25cm stuff that sounds decent.

I've never been a fan of camomile tea so let's try the blue flowers...