To soften the edge of a path or patio, choose a low-growing plant for the conditions beside it, then give that plant room to spill toward the paving. A ground cover can blur a straight line without hiding the walkway. The right choice depends on sunlight, drainage and how often feet will land on the planting.
Which ground covers belong beside a walkway?
Woolly thyme is one option for a sunny spot. Its tiny, fuzzy leaves stay low, roughly one to three inches high, and make a paved edge look less abrupt. Once established, it generally needs less water than a newly planted patch, though it still needs attention during dry spells. A light trim can keep it from looking untidy. Check the growing conditions before choosing it: a shady or persistently wet border is a poor match.
Blue star creeper and Mazus reptans are other creeping perennials to consider. They can spread into the space around pavers and add small flowers as well as foliage. That spreading habit is useful only if you have room for it. Keep an eye on the edge of the bed and cut growth back where it enters a path you need to keep clear. For a wider area where the goal is to replace some turf, see our ideas for ground covers as lawn alternatives.
How close can you plant to the paving?
Look at how the path is used before you dig. A plant brushing the edge of an occasional garden walk has a different job from one alongside a busy driveway. Allow enough clear width for people to walk comfortably and for doors or gates to open. Even plants that tolerate a little foot traffic may wear thin where people repeatedly step. For other ways to ease the shape of a paved area, the post on garden curves looks at the line of the landscape itself.
Prepare the soil where the roots will grow and water regularly while the plants establish. Once they fill in, they may shade some bare soil and help hold it in place, but they will not solve every weed or erosion problem on their own. If runoff is washing soil onto the paving, deal with that condition as part of the planting plan. Nature’s Friends can help choose a ground cover for the site alongside a broader hardscaping project.
