Paving Planting is a Design Trick Pros Love to Soften Garden Paths - Creating a Natural Transition From Home to Yard

Saving money on paving planting design trick does not need to be complicated. Here is a clear, no nonsense rundown of what works and how to make the most of it.

Key Takeaways

• Instead of spending tireless hours trying to remove the weeds and plants that find their method in between your paving slabs, try embracing them.
• Paving planting is the trend that softens your garden path and maximizes your growing space, and the best part is it requires minimal maintenance once established.
• It's a garden path concept that infuses some life into your yard's hardscaping for little effort.
• Worth noting: it's actually quite straightforward to incorporate paving planting in your yard - there are just a handful of steps.

Where the Real Savings Hide

Think creeping flowering plants painting your slabs bright colors for spring and summer, and compact evergreens making your bare path look a little more exciting in the winter landscape. To talk you through this trend, I enlisted the advice of a landscape designer.

• Here's what he says.
• Best Plants for Paving Planting (Image credit: Jiojio via Getty Images)When thinking about which plants to add to your paved area, there's plenty of inspiration that can come from rock gardens.
• More importantly, 'If you wish something with color or flowers, try creeping thyme (which you can grow with these creeping thyme seeds from Amazon) or blue star creeper (which is available to purchase at Walmart),' suggests gardening expert and landscape designer Curtis Atkinson.
• 'Both of these are solid choices, especially if you’re going for a more wild, natural look, and you have fairly large spaces between your pavers,' he describes.

A Closer Look at Paving Planting Design Trick

Plants with shallow roots and those that enjoy more compact planting will thrive better in smaller paving gaps. For instance, erigeron (which you can grow with these erigeron seeds from Amazon) and evergreen dwarf mondo grass (available at Nature Hills).

• Remember that 'If you wish something more lush and green, look for Irish moss or clover (you can apply these clover seeds from Amazon).
• These can tolerate average foot traffic, thrive in temperate climates, and take full sun,' Curtis says These evergreen choices can provide your paving an enchanted fairy garden-feel, almost as though it's been there forever and has become encompassed by nature.
• When picking your paving plants, think about the sun exposure.
• If it's in direct sun, you may wish to opt for landscaping with cacti and succulents, for instance.

What to Know About Paving Planting Design Trick

As a rule, if your paving is located in shade all day, opt for ground cover plants for shade instead, like sweet woodruff (starter plants from Nature Hills). Our guide to walkable ground cover plants has more concepts for compact plants that thrive in a high footfall area, and the best plants for a crevice garden.

• The main aspect to consider is how tall and wide these plants will spread.
• You wish to avoid anything that will grow an upright bushy habit, blocking the walkway.
• In short, curtis AtkinsonSocial Links NavigationCurtis is the founder of Sunline Landscapes, Utah's premier luxury landscape design, installation, and maintenance firm with over two decades of experience serving the state's most discerning homeowners.  How to Plant Them (Image credit: Orchidpoet via Getty Images)To incorporate your paving planting, you require to ensure it's a fit growing environment.
• 'Most plants that you would apply between pavers require to be spaced 6-12” apart when planting.

How Paving Planting Design Trick Really Works

They also all prefer well-drained soil that is slightly moist,' says Curtis. 'All will require consistent watering while they establish their root systems,' he adds.

• Worth noting: if needed, you can prep your planting area by improving your garden soil.
• Put down a layer of organic compost to assist the plants settle in.
• This Miracle Gro all purpose compost from Lowe's is a solid choice.
• Bear in mind the plants that grow in landscaping with gravel or an alternative growing medium, too, like rock garden plants and alpines which prefer a gritty mix.

Getting the Most From Paving Planting Design Trick

More importantly, and for those that spread, take into account how much room they require before overcrowding the area to ensure they can perform well. How to Maintain Paving Planting (Image credit: zhengshun tang via Getty Images)Maintaining your paving planting, of course, depends on what you have growing there, but there are a few general rules of thumb Curtis advises to follow.

• 'Paver plantings like mosses and clover are not highly drought-tolerant.
• Though, plants like creeping thyme are much more drought-tolerant, and blue star creeper is fairly drought-tolerant once established,' he describes.
• Remember that to stop your paving planting drying up and going brown, keep on top of watering.
• You could even apply an irrigation system to make this more automated and low-maintenance (like this drip irrigation kit from Amazon).

Tips That Make a Difference

As for cutting plants back, some paving plants will be more fast growing than others. 'Creeping thyme will require to be trimmed back a couple of times during the spring and summer, but won’t require much maintenance otherwise,' Curtis says.

• As a rule, 'Creeping thyme doesn’t grow much greater than 4”, so heavy mowing isn’t generally necessary.
• Irish moss is highly similar.
• It grows so low to the ground that they generally do not require any trimming or mowing,' he says.
• Something to remember is the spread of your paver planting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In short, you wish to avoid it overtaking so much that you can no longer see the slabs or apply the path. 'Thin any plants out if they begin to invade areas you don’t wish them,' advises Curtis.

• You can also apply garden snips (like these from Amazon) to provide your paving planting a quick trim where necessary.
• Nevertheless, embracing the planting spreading and going a little wild is the part of making paving planting look more naturalistic, so avoid unnecessary cutting back.
• Worth noting: the majority of paving plants thrive in poor soil conditions, especially once established, so fertilizing may not be necessary.
• Though, if you wish to encourage more blooms for flowering plants, you can apply bloom boosting fertilizer in spring (like this from Amazon).

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I save money on paving planting design trick?

Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. To talk you through this trend, I enlisted the advice of a landscape designer.

Is it worth shopping around for paving planting design trick?

Usually yes. Here's what he says.

Smart Ways to Save More on Paving Planting Design Trick

• Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
• Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
• Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
• Time non urgent purchases around major sale events for the deepest cuts.
• Leave items in your cart for a day; some stores send a follow up discount.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line on paving planting design trick: a little research goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is a click away.

Originally published at savingswitch.com.