Question: Recently a client asked me for an alternative to regular grass for areas in between her raised beds.  I appreciate it if you can please provide me with any viable options for the Danville area.  Thanks.   

Mike Goatley (@vaturf) looks to Nancy Berlin, Natural Resource Specialist/Master Gardener Coordinator, Prince William Co. VCE, Manassas, VA for an answer based on her experience and testing.

 

I have tried various things in my own yard and learned a lot from mistakes, like keeping the path wide enough for my wheelbarrow. Sometimes I use arborist wood chips when I know that the area will be difficult to seed and keep growing (shade, compaction, extensive dog traffic).   Wood chips are somewhat controversial, but I subscribe to the techniques mentioned in the Extension publication by Linda Chalker-Scott (http://tinyurl.com/arborist-wood-chips).

I have successfully used Dutch white clover in my paths which tends to cover the ground well and improve soil, retain moisture, withstand dog/people traffic, fix nitrogen, and attract pollinators.  I routinely find lacewings and ladybug larvae on my clover.  I don’t mow the clover at all during the season.  It gets about 3-5” high, but foot traffic keeps it in check.  I do re-seed the areas annually and tend to bare spots periodically.  Achillea millefolium (common yarrow with – white flowers) is a very tough ground cover that take extensive foot traffic.  It takes a while to establish, though. Achillea attracts an unbelievable number of beneficial insects.  The cultivars don’t seem to attract as many or act as tough….purely anecdotal…

Here are some other plants I would like to try in paths in the future, but can’t vouch for them now.

Veronica penduncularis

Veronica repens (creeping speedwell)

Mazus reptans

Anthemis nobilis (Chamomile)

Dwarf cinquefoil Potentilla

Lamium maculatum

Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’

Avoid Lysimachia – and Houttuynia cordata– both very aggressive.