Plants Between Paving Stones

Arne Herbs is frequently asked about the feasibility of planting between paving stones. There are no problems with this provided the appropriate plant is chosen for the environment. It is impossible to give definitive advice without seeing your site and assessing light levels, drainage and pH. At the simplest level though we suggest creeping thymes for dry areas and Corsican mint for damper and/or less well lit sites though the American Museum in Bath has it successfully growing in the cracks on their well drained terrace. Ideally Corsican mint enjoys fertile, damp sand, it does have the interesting (or irritating) habit of dying out in its original site during the winter and reappearing somewhere completely different the following Spring. No plants enjoy having their leaves trampled, but will thrive if the roots and some of the foliage is between the cracks below the soles of passing feet. Some varieties of Santolina, Nepetas and dwarf lavenders may be used for the softening of the path edges, particularly in drier areas and Alchemilla dwarf or larger, virtually anywhere. We normally sell these in litre pots. Some further suggestions are listed at the end of this sheet.

Ensure you purchase creeping as opposed to upright thymes, amongst those suitable are Golden, red creeping, azoricus, Bressingham pink and serpyllum album (white).

During 2010 our thymes and Corsican mint will be supplied ex 9cm pots at £2.20 each but a 10% discount may be claimed for 20 or more plants all of the same variety collected from the nursery. There is no discount for twenty mixed thymes .

After planting, water frequently until the plants have got their roots down but remember drainage is sometimes impeded between paving stones, so avoid water logging. A little fertilizer would be welcomed by the plants during their settling-in period and they should be protected from slugs and pedestrians until they have spread entirely across their designated area.

The price quoted will not include trays. However, to facilitate collection we can provide cardboard boxes at no charge or Empot carriers at cost. Alternatively, we would be happy to dispatch your plants via TNT. The delivery man will not leave plants on your door step if you are out, so please advise if you are going on holiday and we will despatch at your convenience. Please, Cheque with order ; we do not take plastic.

Plants may be left on the nursery at our liability to await collection for up to three weeks from completion of order provided payment has been received in full and a receipt issued.

Further suggestions